The New Year is usually followed by hastily broken resolutions and attempts at trying new things or outlooks that gradually fade away into memory. However, one new outlook England as a nation (and English people) need to try this year is following women’s sport.
‘But Women’s Sport is boring’ I hear you cry, and yes on the whole women as athletes are less interesting to watch than men when it comes to team sports – know why? Because nobody is watching so less money goes into them! It’s a vicious cycle that we can break by showing support to our female sports stars.
It is fair to say that on average women are less quick and strong than men – these attributes are key for sporting success. However, at the heights of professional sport this does not make women less interesting than men to watch – take women’s tennis or MMA for example. In these sports female athlete’s profiles are often equal to or larger than their male counterparts – the William’s sisters or Ronda Rousey are well know the world over, and this isn’t just down to publicity, it’s because they excel in their fields. With the proper, professional atmosphere and money going into the sport these female athletes have become celebrities on a par with any male athlete.
So, why should England specifically embrace Women’s sport? Put simply they’re more successful than the men. England Women’s Football Team, ‘the Lionesses’ came third in last year’s World Cup in Canada – defeating Germany in the third place final to prove that they are the best team in Europe. Currently rated fifth in the FIFA Women’s rankings England Women are four places ahead of their male counterparts in the men’s rankings. What’s more England Women’s Rugby Union team are the current World Champions winning the cup in 2014. Both teams have, therefore, done far better than their male counterpart’s both of which crashed out of the group/pool stages of their last world cups.
In other sports England Women also do very well being ranked third in the INF World Netball Rankings, and sixth in the FIH World Hockey rankings – okay England Men are ranked higher in hockey but the point is English women’s sport is successful!
The fact is women’s sport is still in it’s infancy in England, however, there is already plenty of success, now is the time to build on that success and get the right funding in place to progress women’s sport further. This funding won’t come unless there is money to be made. English people need to watch women’s sports to get advertisers interested / bring profits into the right hands – there is no point in the Lionesses playing at Wembley unless they get good attendance. With more fans women’s sport will have more money to develop and grow, with disappointing men’s results in many sports it’s about time the girls got the support they deserve.
Images from the BBC, Telegraph and the Daily Mail
my ignorant opinion 