Accepting women being significant figures in sports

Sport is one of the areas of social and economic life where the barriers to equal opportunities for women are more and more being broken down. Over the years, there have been significant advances, but all the hurdles have not yet been dismantled.{{more}}

Recently, major milestones have been reached in the sports of tennis and golf. In tennis, Scotland’s Andy Murray, 2012 Olympic gold medallist and Wimbledon champion, made history in June by appointing a female coach, France’s Amelie Mauresmo, herself female Wimbledon champion in 2004. Murray is one of the world’s top four players, so his appointment of a female coach, unprecedented for a top-ranking player, is a major boost for women’s tennis.

But not all in the tennis world welcome this breakthrough. It was followed by Spain announcing the appointment of a female captain of its international male Davis Cup team earlier this week. But while many hailed the appointment of Ms Gala Leon Garcia as Spain’s main coach, the uncle and coach of ace player Rafael Nadal has criticized the appointment, proving that there is still not full acceptance of equal opportunities for women.

ALL-MALE BASTION STORMED

Meanwhile a 260-year old tradition of excluding women came to an end with a vote by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, an all-male affair since its formation in 1754, to accept female members. The Royal and Ancient is considered traditionally as “the home of golf,” much as Lord’s is deemed the “home of cricket” and has steadfastly upheld its all-male membership since then.

But earlier this month, 85 per cent of its members voted to accept women members, another victory for equal rights for men and women.

Clearly, while other barricades are yet to be stormed, these are SIGNS OF THE TIMES in which we live.