Women in sport highlight their challenges

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
WOMEN in sport yesterday highlighted some of the challenges they are face in a sector that has continued to prevent more women from participating at various levels.
The problems were highlighted during the Women and Sport Leadership Workshop organised by the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.
The two-day seminar started yesterday at Crowne Plaza Monomotapa in Harare and ends today.

Yesterday saw the executive director of Zimbabwe Business Council on AIDS, David Mutambara, taking the participants through various issues that affect women in sport.

Mutambara touched on challenges faced by women and governance in sport and emphasised the importance of having a governance culture in the different organisations and associations involved in sport.

He also talked about women sport leadership. It was during these discussions that the participants drawn from various sporting disciplines such as athletics, hockey, rugby, equestrian, rowing, hockey, karate and basketball, corporate sector and educational institutions had the opportunity to articulate the challenges they face as they seek to make an impact in the sporting world.

Some of the challenges that were highlighted include cultural and social beliefs that hinder the participation of women in sport as well as the economic challenges, lack of support, exposure and resources.

The participants said there is need to address the challenges and indicated that capacity building for women was important so they can be effective in their leadership roles.

Mutambara said he was impressed with the level of involvement by the participants as they aired their views on the various issues that were discussed.

“My initial thought is that I was very impressed with the level of involvement and engagement, the level of thinking.
“And I feel that it has generated a lot of interest and, in some, a lot of confidence in what they have to do.

“But unless we have got immediate follow-ups to this you will find that implementation is tough so I would encourage that there are equal similar workshops in the future to reinforce what the women have learnt today,” said Mutambara.

Mutambara took time to highlight how Africa is rated among the leading continents in terms of women representation in National Olympic Committees especially the Sub-Saharan region.

This is according to the International Olympic Committee statistics.
However, he said there was need now to focus on the quality of the leaders since Africa was progressing on a faster pace in recognising women leaders in sport.

“Because we are progressing fast, I think our emphasis should be more on enhancing the quality of the leaders and grooming new quality leaders and then we will naturally progress to have higher representation,” said Mutambara.

Zimbabwe’s top female rower, Micheen Thornycroft, graced the event and together with her coach, Rachel Davis who is participating in the seminar, they had the opportunity to share their experiences as women in sport. Thornycroft made it to the London Olympic Games last year under the guidance of Davis who was the only female coach for rowing at the Games.