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opinion CoME on, LaDiES… let’s get sporty By Helen Grant Mp Earlier this year i penned a piece for The Lady wearing my hat as the minister looking after the government’s First World War Centenary programme. This time, though, i’m here as Minister for Sport, a job in government that has a particular and very personal meaning for me. That’s because sport was a way of finding myself in a difficult period, growing up in a pretty tough part of Carlisle as one of the few people in the area with darker skin. Sport was a way for me to stand out at school in a posto me. i know what a ‘ life changer’ it can be. My job has been made all the more satisfying thanks to the success stories that women’s sport has delivered. and what a year 2014 was for women’s sport. Some thought that London 2012 would be a bit of a one-off for women’s success. Far from it. The gold rush in that amazing summer, led by jess Ennis, Victoria pendleton and nicola adams, was no flash in the pan. There were amazing individual triumphs. Lizzy yarnold got GB’s only Gold at the Sochi Winter olympics, ‘I want to see more girls considering a career in sport and more women in top leadership positions’ itive way. and success in it brought a whole lot more than physical fitness and a taste for healthy living. it also gave me confidence, an understanding of team spirit, a will to win and a deeply rooted belief that the more you put in the more you get out. So women’s sport – promoting it, celebrating its success and pushing for more and better opportunities for those taking part – is really important while Kelly Gallagher and Charlotte Evans became the first competitors from the uK to clinch a Winter paralympics gold medal. jo pavey won her first major championship gold medal at the European Championships in Zurich in the 10,000m, becoming the oldest-ever female European champion. Charlotte Dujardin made history by winning two gold medals at the World Equestrian Games. Athletes Dame Kelly Holmes and Lizzy Yarnold with Helen Grant MP (centre) at the Queen’s Baton Relay in Tonbridge, Kent in 2014 we’ve seen the England women’s rugby team win the World Cup in France in august, with 20 of our top rugby players coming back to receive professional contracts for the first time. Earlier, in april, England’s women cricketers followed up an ashes triumph and a series win in the West indies by reaching the final of the T20 in Bangladesh, later beating india 2-0 in the iCC Women’s Championship and completing a 3-0 T20 win over South africa. JUST REWARDS and, like the rugby squad, their success was rewarded – firstly with a bespoke sponsorship deal from Kia, and secondly the terrific news that 18 of them are getting central England professional contracts. The sponsor- The Lady 2 january 2015 16
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Slug Here ship deal is particularly important. Disappointingly, women’s sponsorship deals still account for only 0.4 per cent of the total sports market. It’s also good to report that support for women’s sport is growing. The women’s football international at Wembley against germany in november marked the team’s debut at the new stadium. The team lost 0-3 but Wembley was a sell-out, with more than 45,000 people coming to watch the match. So the omens are good for 2015, and not just for our footballers, who next year compete in the World Cup in Canada. Where do I want women’s sport to go from here? Firstly, I want to see more women in top leadership positions in sport, and I want to see more women and girls considering a career in sport. This is harder than it looks, I’m afraid. ROLE MODELS There’s a perception that sport’s a male industry and that you have to be – or have been – really brilliant at sport to work in the field. It’s about bringing the right skills and diversity to the sector – and women have a huge part to play in that. That’s why I’m supporting the Inspiring The Future campaign to encourage girls into sporting careers. I also want to see more sportswomen and elite women’s sports events featured in the media. We know there’s a demand – the germany game proved that – so it’s about showcasing it. To be fair, the broadcasters are already doing a fantastic job, but I just want to see more. What else? I want to see more commercial investment in women’s sport through sponsorship. Companies are missing a trick – our fantastic sportswomen are great role models who could hugely help a brand’s reputation and take their product to new audiences. and finally, of course, I want people to get behind Sport england’s new campaign, This girl Can, to get women and girls more active, to be launched in the new year. Sport is such a force for good and can benefit women in so many ways. So a new year’s resolution for readers of The Lady can be – get out there and get involved. There’s a sport out there for you. ■ 2 january 2015 The Lady 17

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opinion

CoME on, LaDiES… let’s get sporty

By Helen Grant Mp

Earlier this year i penned a piece for The Lady wearing my hat as the minister looking after the government’s First World War Centenary programme. This time, though, i’m here as Minister for Sport, a job in government that has a particular and very personal meaning for me.

That’s because sport was a way of finding myself in a difficult period, growing up in a pretty tough part of Carlisle as one of the few people in the area with darker skin. Sport was a way for me to stand out at school in a posto me. i know what a ‘ life changer’ it can be.

My job has been made all the more satisfying thanks to the success stories that women’s sport has delivered. and what a year 2014 was for women’s sport. Some thought that London 2012 would be a bit of a one-off for women’s success. Far from it. The gold rush in that amazing summer, led by jess Ennis, Victoria pendleton and nicola adams, was no flash in the pan.

There were amazing individual triumphs. Lizzy yarnold got GB’s only Gold at the Sochi Winter olympics,

‘I want to see more girls considering a career in sport and more women in top leadership positions’

itive way. and success in it brought a whole lot more than physical fitness and a taste for healthy living.

it also gave me confidence, an understanding of team spirit, a will to win and a deeply rooted belief that the more you put in the more you get out. So women’s sport – promoting it, celebrating its success and pushing for more and better opportunities for those taking part – is really important while Kelly Gallagher and Charlotte Evans became the first competitors from the uK to clinch a Winter paralympics gold medal. jo pavey won her first major championship gold medal at the European Championships in Zurich in the 10,000m, becoming the oldest-ever female European champion. Charlotte Dujardin made history by winning two gold medals at the World Equestrian Games.

Athletes Dame Kelly Holmes and Lizzy Yarnold with Helen Grant MP (centre) at the Queen’s Baton Relay in Tonbridge, Kent in 2014 we’ve seen the England women’s rugby team win the World Cup in France in august, with 20 of our top rugby players coming back to receive professional contracts for the first time. Earlier, in april, England’s women cricketers followed up an ashes triumph and a series win in the West indies by reaching the final of the T20 in Bangladesh, later beating india 2-0 in the iCC Women’s Championship and completing a 3-0 T20 win over South africa.

JUST REWARDS and, like the rugby squad, their success was rewarded – firstly with a bespoke sponsorship deal from Kia, and secondly the terrific news that 18 of them are getting central England professional contracts. The sponsor-

The Lady 2 january 2015 16

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