Media Release: MADDEN ENCOURAGES FAIRER WOMEN’S SPORT COVERAGE

FROM THE MINISTER FOR THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES, MINISTER FOR SPORT AND RECREATION

DATE: Wednesday, June 18, 2003

MADDEN ENCOURAGES FAIRER WOMEN’S SPORT COVERAGE

Top Victorian female athletes will push for fairer media coverage of women’s sport at a forum organised by the Bracks Government today.

Athletes including Linley Frame, Kirstie Marshall and Claire Mitchell Taverner will tackle high-profile sports commentator, Dwayne Russell, and other media representatives on why they don’t get coverage on par with men.

The Minister for the Commonwealth Games, Sport and Recreation, Justin Madden, said the aim of today’s forum was to promote the standing of women’s sport in Victoria.

Mr Madden said he appreciated the frustration of female athletes who often performed better than their male counterparts, yet slipped behind on airplay and sponsorship support.

“So many Victorian female athletes are world-beaters and acclaimed overseas for their performances, but at home their achievements often get less recognition,” he said.

“Female sport shouldn’t struggle due to disinterest by commercial media.”

Mr Madden also said it was essential to arrest the decline in female sport participation, increasing obesity and inactivity levels.

“If females see plenty of positive media images of women athletes it can lead them to become involved in sport and recreation and be more active and healthy,” he said.

Mr Madden said the Bracks Government was also committed to increasing women’s participation in cricket, soccer and basketball with a funding boost over four years.

“We’re tipping in more support to the Victorian Institute of Sport for elite athlete development, especially for our emerging female athletes,” he said.

“With a little over a thousand days to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, we are determined to ensure our female athletes, and indeed all our athletes, have the opportunities to reach their full potential.”