#BalanceforBetter in women's sport for 2019

 February 04, 2018

Worldwide, slow gains are being made when it comes to increased media coverage of women's sporting events, the securing of bigger sponsorships for women's teams and tournaments, more equal pay for women in sport, better support and greater respect overall. So let's speed up equality!

Iconic athletes lent their support back in 2018 to help raise awareness

Olympic Gold medal winner Charlotte Caslick OAM and Craig Twentyman, Head of Athletic Performance Australian Women’s 7s Rugby #PressforProgress for equality

Highlighting the gains in women's sport

It's time to place a lot more value on women's sporting contributions and participation. And it's time to celebrate the people, teams, communities and media who actively choose to support, cover and feature women's sport.

In 2018 it was time to #PressforProgress and work together to truly speed up gender parity for women's sport - across all teams, across all countries.

But more balance is still needed in 2019

The media can play an active role in promoting women's equality in sport by increasing coverage of women's accomplishments and successes - so as to help that forge forward women's equality in sport.

Celebrate those journalists, broadcasters and media outlets that go out of their way to cover and champion women in sport. Openly acknowledge the sponsors around the world who show their commitment to supporting and driving forward women's sport.

Around the world sporting teams and their clubs took to social media in 2018 to promote their International Women's Day activity and to showcase how they played their part as they made a #PressforProgress.

Each day this week until @womensday we we will be sharing empowering images of our team as we continue to #PressForProgress and maintain #genderparity
💚💗💙#IWD2018 #InternationalWomensDay #WomensDay  #PressforProgress-image

— Abbey Ladies RFC @AbbeyRFCLadies 

Impressive women athletes called for equality

Last year in 2018 the Fiji Women's National Rugby Sevens Team commited to #PressforProgress

Fiji Women's National Rugby Sevens Team player Tima Ravisa was a strong advocate for equality and called out to sporting communities across the world to #PressforProgress.

Fiji Women's National Rugby Sevens kicked off #PressforProgress call

And it wasn't only the many accomplished individual women who were championing the plight for equality, whole teams got behind the global #PressforProgress campaign last year in 2018.  
 

The world watched as the remarkable Fiji Women's National Rugby Sevens Team stepped up as leaders and champions to put the very first strong call out to further teams and sporting communities around the world to forge forward and to make a #PressforProgress. Way to go Team Fiji - your strength and drive were an inspiration for everyone!

Fiji Women's National Rugby Team Manager, Salote Ramabuke, knows rugby can drive equality.
 

Further teams around the world supported a #PressforProgress last year in 2018

Samoa Rugby Union joined many sporting groups around the world who called for women's equality in sport.

Samoa Rugby Union joined the global call to #PressforProgress

Men were also powerful advocates for equality

And it wasn't not solely up to the women to call for equality. Men were great allies and advocates when it came to tangible action to drive gender parity in 2018. Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s coach Iliesa Tanivula urged tournament organisers to include women’s competition in their events saying “Not only will this provide more opportunity for game time but also it promotes gender equality.”

Equality in sport drives equality in communities

And here is a further reason why equality in sport really matters. Not only does it provide women with the respect and equal exposure they deserve, but it changes communities. Equality in sport strengthens solidarity and helps forge the awareness needed to drive positive change in communities everywhere.

Did your team #PressforProgress back in 2018 and will you call for a #BalanceforBetter in 2019?

Send in your videos, interviews, soundbites, press releases, social media posts or news coverage if you'd like your own calls for equality and gains made promoted and amplified via the International Women's Day 2019 #BalanceforBetter Women's World Sport Initiative.

Equality campaigns drive positive change

What in fact inspired International Women's Day to kick off a Women's World Sport Initiative?

Back in 2017, the U.S. Women's National Hockey Team adopted the International Women's Day 2017 campaign theme #BeBoldForChange to call for pay equality. Each member of the U.S. Women’s National Hockey League Team held up messages with the hashtag #BeBoldForChange on Twitter and Instagram posts, calling for equality.

The players were boycotting the world championship unless they came to an agreement over improved wage and other support from USA Hockey. The women's team received support from the Major League Baseball Players Association and groups around the world supporting the team's solidarity to stand united.

Their tweet said:
The USWNT has taken to social media to show their solidarity with a "The players of the USWNT are ..." movement #BeBoldForChange - Women's Hockey Life (@LiveTheDreamWHL) - 1:39 PM - Mar 24, 2017

So in 2019, it's time to #BalancerforBetter

Join the global movement throughout 2019, and beyond, to step up and truly make a difference for women's sport and #BalanceforBetter