Women’s sport has made monumental progress in recent years and now is not the time to take a back seat.
Earlier this year, the Otago Daily Times ran a multi-part series examining women’s sport, and today we launch a new monthly column, The Revolution, to continue examining women’s sport on its trajectory.
We want to know what matters to you, the readers, the things you want to read about in this column and anything happening among our local stars — send them in.
There is no better time to shine a light having just witnessed the biggest sporting event to reach our shores — the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
The tournament broke down barriers. For some, who had not been exposed to the beautiful game before, it was an awakening.
The Football Ferns’ historic 1-0 opening win over Norway had a record attendance of 42,137, and more than a million people watched at home, football’s largest television audience in New Zealand in 20 years.
That was surpassed in the round of 16 when 43,217 watched Spain v Switzerland, and more than 700,000 people attended the 29 games across the country.
We were also there. Dunedin hosted six games, and had a record 25,947 fans for the crucial Ferns v Swiss clash.
Could the Black Ferns surpass that during the WXV 1 rugby series at Forsyth Barr Stadium next month?
But is it not just the numbers that matter. It is the influence the tournament had on both host nations, a lasting legacy and inspiring children to be active.
Spain and England played a stunning final in a fitting end and Spain were worthy winners.
It is, however, bitterly disappointing that the headlines since then have focused on the inappropriate actions of the Spanish football boss forcibly kissing a player and grabbing a staff member on the sideline.
What is even more deflating is the way that man and others tried to put the blame back on the player.
It highlights again the deep-rooted issue of women’s sport not being taken seriously.
That is not a problem at the Otago Daily Times.
Welcome to The Revolution.
Smashing records
The Nebraska Cornhuskers and Omaha Mavericks set a world record recently when 92,003 fans packed into Memorial Stadium to watch the college volleyball game. It surpassed the record football crowd of 91,648 Barcelona attracted in the Champions League semifinal at Camp Nou in April.
Who said people don’t watch women’s sport?
One last thing
Get along to the Edgar Centre for next three days as the national netball championships reach the playoffs. It is free top-level netball and Dunedin is in some form, having beaten last year’s finalists Hamilton City yesterday.
