Ms. Magazine’s Post

The Government is now ‘dancing on the head of a pin’ in backtracking an important policy, and trying to “ensure both fairness and inclusivity” in community sport. Previously the NZ First-led coalition agreement made it a policy to potentially withhold public funding from New Zealand sports bodies if they do not comply with a requirement to separate transgender athletes from grassroots competitions (I.e. preventing biological men from competing against girls and women in grassroots sports). We think the government is ignoring the safety and fairness required in sports especially for women, but also strong public opinion, by turning a blind eye to biological males playing in female sports against girls and women. #womenssports #whatisawoman #familyfirst #familyfirstnz https://lnkd.in/gDksmEnz

If anyone was in any doubt of Wrexham AFC's international appeal, they just signed their first regional partner. I'm talking about the women's team, of course 👇. 📹 It's now a familiar format. A new Wrexham sponsor is announced to the world in a humorous video featuring Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. 🇺🇸 But what is different this time is that the new partner, Ally, only operates within the US. 🏦 The US's largest all-digital bank is sponsoring the 2024 Wrex Coast Tour, helping to bring the women's team to the U.S. for the first time as part of their ambition "to make women’s sports unmissable." 👀 They are also keen to "increase the club's visibility on a global stage, accelerating its ambitions to become known as a top club worldwide." ⚽ As a side note in the press release, they will also sponsor the men's team tour to the US. 🤔 Is there a better example of the growth in the appeal of women's sports, the value of sports documentaries, and how to use owner/stakeholder platforms to grow the business at the moment? 👉 Share examples of others doing a good job in the comments. I'm keen to learn about who else is doing great work in this space. 📺 Watch the announcement video here: https://lnkd.in/gR-kGA3y #sponsorship #sportsbiz #sportsmarketing #StriveSays ---------------------- 💥 My name is Malph. 🆘 Helping brands to use sponsorship to deliver marketing objectives. 🤝 Supporting rights holders to build valuable partnerships. Like this post? Want to see more? Ring the 🔔 on my Profile. 🔎 Follow me for insights on the sponsorship and sports industry, and how outside learnings and theories can be applied. 🔝 Connect with me (please add an intro/reason).

There’s another reason to celebrate this year’s Olympics – gender parity! For the first time since 1900, when women first competed in the Olympic games, there is a 50-50 split between women and men. Read our latest research on “Turning Moments into Movements” and the advancement of women’s sports:

#FairnessForWomenSports GENEVA (25th June 2024) – Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics next month, female athletes have called on the international community to protect women and girls from having to compete against males under ideological policies eroding female sports categories across the world.  More than 100 elite British sportswomen told the BBC in March that they would be uncomfortable with males competing in female categories in their sport. However, many have expressed fears over sharing their opinion publicly because of concerns they would be seen as “discriminatory”. Addressing government and UN officials during a side event at the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies compared the inclusion of men in women’s sports to the drug-enhancement scandal of the 1980s. Davies lost out on winning gold due to an East German competitor who had been given an unfair advantage, having been supplied with testosterone as a teenager to improve her performance. Davies explained that many of the female winners who had been injected with testosterone in the 1980s went on to suffer long-term health problems, which also impacted the next generation with birth defects. Furthermore, their female competitors who lost out on medals due to cheating were never recognized for their rightful achievements. “Having lived through the injustice of my time, I know the importance of ensuring fairness for female athletes today. We know that the physical attributes caused by testosterone give males an unfair and irreversible advantage – yet time and time again, they are given a ticket to compete in female-only events, causing worthy female competitors to lose out.   “This is the sporting crime of the 21st Century. What is happening to women and girl athletes is a far-reaching human rights abuse." - Sharron Davies, Olympic Swimmer This is the sporting crime of the 21st Century. What is happening to women and girl athletes is a far-reaching human rights abuse with egregious implications for not only fairness and safety, but also for their opportunities to succeed in sports, scholarship opportunities, and beyond. As this issue comes to a head, it is imperative that the international community do all it can to defend the basic human rights of women and girls in sports.” 

Interesting report from Survey Monkey and Parity looking at gender equality in sport, sports viewing and sports branding. For those HR professionals and business leaders reading this, what can we learn that can be applied to our organisations? ✔ progress can take time ✔ investment and buy-in is essential What do you think? https://lnkd.in/ejXjfWNH

Sports Inclusion and Misogyny For a period of ten years, there was an agreement with IOC and WADA that relied upon individual sports federations to include athletes regardless of gender transition status. That system relied heavily upon individual sports federations, which was it's undoing. 2023 saw a social media campaign against Trans femme persons, globally. A populist movement, stoked by "traditional values," and good olde fashioned misogyny. The result was World Athletics President, Sebastian Coe's statement specifically targeting transgender women. Some sports federations followed suit, World Aquatics, and UCI (cycling) to name two. The IOC retreated to reacting to social pressure. Is it a complex issue? Only if the individual sports federations allowed it to become so. By ignoring existing rulings, they were able to allow tensions to build. A compromise solution? The IOC has put itself in a position of allowing some sports federations to encumber potential hosting locations. Human rights, take precedence over sports policies. Future work. Making all sports inclusive is a worthy goal, and making competition fair is equally as important. To reach a position of equality, some sports federations must revisit their exclusions. Opinion by Melissa Hudson https://lnkd.in/epheBb6y

The Paris Olympics of 2024 transcended being just a sporting event; they evolved into a battleground for cultural and ideological conflicts. Amidst the athletic achievements, controversies overwoke culture integration and transgender athletes' participation sparked passionate debates. The emphasis on inclusivity and social justice clashed with the traditional celebration of athletic excellence, raising questions about the event's core purpose. Critics argued that the opening ceremony's focus on political messaging overshadowed French culture and history, leading to divided opinions. The inclusion of transgender women in women's sports also ignited discussions on fairness and competitive integrity, emphasizing the delicate balance between inclusivity and maintaining the spirit of competition. Moreover, the Olympics served as a platform for broader societal issues, with protests reflecting diverse concerns and viewpoints. The challenges faced by organizers underscore the need to navigate complex social values while upholding the Games' fundamental mission. As future host cities prepare, they must delicately balance these intricate issues to ensure that the spotlight remains on the athletes and the essence of competition. Do you think the Paris Olympics was a cultural awakening or did they go too far? Is "wokeness" destroying our moral Fibre as a society and are values no longer a priority? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section. #ParisOlympics #CulturalDebates #AthleticExcellence #SocialValues #Inclusivity #CompetitionSpirit

February 7th was National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Each year, during the first week of February, we celebrate the meaning of this day. In business, I frequently refer to my experience as a competitive collegiate scholar-athlete and collegiate coach. I’ve been fortunate to be part of teams that were built from losing seasons to winning seasons (and even winning a championship). Talk about going from zero to 100 in a short timeline! A recent study by Deloitte found that “According to respondents who have played competitive sports, the top skills gained from competitive sports include teamwork (69%) and leadership (41%). Other skills include managing stress and pressure (36%), problem solving (35%), and effective communication (34%).” Celebrate women in sports, watch women in sports, and support women in sports. Women's Sports Foundation #NGWSD2024 #NGWSD24

Wow, what a journey we've witnessed in the world of sports! 🏅 ⬇️ In 1900, only 2.2% of Olympians were women. ↘️ By 1928, it was up to 9.6%. ➡️ Fast forward to 1964, and it reached 13.2%. ⤴ 1992 saw a big leap to 28.9%. ⬆️ Now, in 2024, women make up 50% of all Olympic athletes! 💪 This milestone is incredible. It's a testament to the progress we've made towards equality. But let's not stop here. We need to look deeper. Participation still varies a lot from country to country. Some nations have nearly equal representation. Others, not so much. Cultural, economic, and social barriers still hold many back. So, while celebrating this victory, let's pledge to keep pushing. Let's work towards more opportunities for all women everywhere. Equality in sports isn't just about numbers. It's about giving everyone a fair chance to shine. 🌟 How do you think we can keep moving forward? Share your thoughts below! 👇