Women in Sport initiative: Of the numerous surveys carried out into sport, one of the stark reminders that keeps coming back is that not many women participate in physical activity. In fact at present only 10 per cent of women in Ireland are participating regularly in sport and physical activity in order to gain health benefits.
From that grim number the Irish Sports Council (ISC) has launched an initiative, which is aimed at promoting increased participation of women of all ages in sport and yesterday at the National Boxing Stadium announced a €750,000 Women in Sport Initiative. Over €500,000 has now been directed into 14 projects devised by various governing bodies, all of which are aimed at bringing women and young girls into sport or to retain or re-engage former participants.
A further €131,000 has been allocated across all 16 local sports partnerships for locally-based projects aimed at specific target groups such as travellers, teenagers and mothers and children.
Players and administrators from numerous women's sports including camogie, rowing, surfing, swimming and four second-year hockey players from Muckross Park School, attended the launch where John O'Donoghue, Minister for Sports, added his imprimatur to the project.
Camogie and women's Gaelic football have extensive plans to reel in more participants. The camogie project centres around a blitz day to be hosted at third level colleges for schools in their counties. The intention is to encourage girls to see the sport as a long-term recreational pastime and not as something played for a few years.
Women's Gaelic football intends to address referee and official development with their "Ladies Grab Your Whistle" programme.
They will also run an underage and development programme entitled "Gaelic for Girls".
Swim Ireland, so often attracting the negative end of media coverage, are launching Learn To Swim and Aqua Fit programmes for mature women while the Irish Ladies Golfing Union is also running a project to support the entry into the sport of new adult female members.
"It is apparent that an increasing number of women are becoming interested in sport whether it is for recreation or high performance," said O'Donoghue. "Society must ensure that no obstacles or barriers exist that precludes people becoming involved in sport. Every opportunity must be provided to ensure equal opportunity and access to quality programmes and train facilities, resources and services."
A dedicated women-in-sport website is also being developed, which will outline existing projects, profile sportswomen and provide links to where women can find participation opportunities. The www.womeninsport.ie will be active by the beginning of November.
"This initiate is aimed at encouraging women; young and old alike into sport as participants, players, officials and administrators," said ISC Chairman Ossie Kilkenny. "It is recognised that we need to attract more women into all levels of sport."
The Irish Hockey Association are to introduce and develop mini hockey festivals throughout the provinces to encourage more young girls to take up the sport at primary level. The IHA are providing matching funding to support the project.
Total: €750,000. National Governing Body (NGB) projects: €516,150. Local Sports Partnership projects: 134,496. Administration costs: €99,353. NGB projects breakdown: Basketball Ireland 86,000; Comhairle Liathroid Laimhe 5,000; Cumann Camogaiochta na nGael 30,000; Cumann Peil Gael na mBan 40,000; FAI 80,000; IARU €42,000; Irish Gymnastics €31,000; Irish Hockey Association 15,000; ILGU 35,000; IRFU €30,000; Iris Surfing Association €14,000; Special Olympics €54,000; Swim Ireland 30,000; IABA 23,000. Total: €516,150.
