A meeting will take place in Dublin later this week to consider the challenges and opportunities facing women in sport in Ireland.

Members of Sport for Business will gather this Thursday, 31st May, at Jury’s Croke Park. There, representatives from sports governing bodies, existing partners of women’s sport, athletes and others will look at why only one per cent of commercial investment in sport goes towards games played by women.

The meeting will explore issues including:

• What are the perceptions of women’s sport that prevent greater commercial sponsorship?
• Are there particular sectors which could gain great marketing mileage for a relatively modest investment?
• How extensive is media coverage of women’s sport and can it be improved?
• What can we learn from the role model for women’s sport that is Katie Taylor?
• What has worked well for companies that have been involved in supporting Women’s sport?

“We have just enjoyed another weekend of fabulous achievement by Irish women on the world’s sporting stages,” said Sport for Business CEO, Rob Hartnett, “Aileen Morrison, Sycericka McMahon and Natalya Coyle have performed wonders yet still we find it difficult to raise funding from the business world for sports that are seen as minority.”
 
“There have been some advances in recent times with Katie Taylor leading the way, but we want to develop a growing awareness among business leaders that women’s sport can deliver great partnerships at a much lower cost than what are seen as the premium teams and events.”
 
“We want to use this potential golden era for women’s sport to place it on a more secure footing when it comes to attracting investment and delivering loyalty to brands and partners.”
 
Among those represented at the meeting will be top flight athletes, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, the International Rugby Board, The Irish Hockey Association, The Irish Sports Council and Beaut.ie.

“Bicycling has done more to emancipate women than any one thing in the world”

— Susan B. Anthony, suffragist, 1896

Since the start of the year, Irish women have gained several sporting achievements – including in rugby, track & field, and boxing – while at least 26 athletes have qualified for the London Olympics and Ireland’s football squad continues their Euro 2013 qualifying fixtures.

Last month, in a documentary for the BBC, Gaby Logan explored the shocking and pervasive sexism at all levels in English football. Meanwhile, in February, an international conference met place in Los Angeles to discuss women in sport. At the close of that event, participants called on sports leaders to take a more proactive role in advancing the cause of women in and through sport. The conference approved the “Los Angeles Declaration” which focused on:

• The need to bring more women into management and leadership roles
• The need to increase collaboration and partnerships, especially with UN organisations, to promote gender equality.

Sport for Business is a community of business and sporting leaders looking to build bridges between the two for the benefit of both.
 
A review of points arising from the meeting will be available at www.sportforbusiness.com on Thursday evening.

If you’re interested in attending Thursday’s event please contact Rob Hartnett rob@sportforbusiness.com.

What? Sport for Business presents Women in Sport: Round Table Discussion
When? Thursday 31st May (referendum day!) at 9:00am-10:30am
Where? Jury’s Croke Park (opposite stadium)
How much? Sport for Business members can attend for free. €30 for non-members.

Also:

• Niamh Griffin: Inspiring Sports Women
• Women Talk Sports
• Irish Sports Council: Women in sport web / facebook
• UN: Women, gender equality and sport [pdf]