Women in Sport Aotearoa to release new gender equity research, as Prime Minister Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern headlines 2021 Captains Lunch to mark ‘1 year to go’ until the 8th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport
Prime Minister Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern will headline a packed agenda at Eden Park, New Zealand this afternoon, as more than 400 sport and business leaders gather at the 2021 Captains Lunch to mark exactly ‘1 year to go’ until the 8th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport.
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – MAY 07: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks during the Women in Sport Aotearoa Captains Lunch at Eden Park on May 07, 2021 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Taking place between 5-8 May 2022, the 8th IWG World Conference on Women & Sport is the largest gathering in the world dedicated to gender equity in sport and physical activity. Together with the Cricket, Rugby and Football World Cups, it is known in New Zealand as one of the “big 4”; the four international women’s sports events scheduled to take place in New Zealand over the next three years.
IWG New Zealand Secretariat, Women in Sport Aotearoa will use the moment to release brand new research, which demonstrates that 53% of kiwi adults now consider “gender equity in sport” to be an important social cause.
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – MAY 07: Rachel Froggatt speaks during the Women in Sport Aotearoa Captains Lunch at Eden Park on May 07, 2021 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Rachel Froggatt, IWG Secretary General & Chief Executive of Women in Sport Aotearoa, said:
“in recent years, there has been a concerted and coordinated effort at all levels of the system to address imbalances and create equity of opportunity for women and girls to participate, compete and build careers in sport and recreation. In parallel, we have been doing everything we can to raise awareness and understanding and provide support and solutions to help affect positive change.
It’s very heartening to see the results of this hard work appear in this new research. More kiwis than ever before agree with us: creating gender equity in sport is an important social cause. With the ‘big 4’ women’s sports events coming, we have an unparalleled moment to make a permanent change.”
The new research has also redefined the supporter base for the “gender equity in sport” movement.
Rachel continues:
“It has sometimes been said that at its heart, the ‘gender equity in sport’ movement is a “women’s issue”. We’ve long speculated that our kiwi men were far more enlightened. So, we were thrilled to have this proven in the new research, which shows a close gender split amongst supporters.
It also shows that millennials, and people under the age of 44yo, are our biggest supporters. We anticipate that as our current supporter group ages, more support will be added at the younger end. Therefore, the movement will continue to grow in size and scale, leading to even greater impact.”
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – MAY 07: (L-R) Megan Compain, Sarah Walker, Emma Gilmour and Duane Kale speak during the Women in Sport Aotearoa Captains Lunch at Eden Park on May 07, 2021 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
A vast array of leaders from the business and sport sector will come together at today’s Captains Lunch to network, share ideas and challenge each other to assist in improving gender equity in Aotearoa sport. Prime Minister Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern will join the ranks as the keynote speaker for the event, with an agenda also including remarks by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Sport & Recreation, Hon Grant Robertson and Chief Executive of Sport New Zealand, Raelene Castle ONZM. A panel conversation with Duane Kale ONZM, Vice President of the International Paralympic Committee; BMX Olympic silver medallist and IOC Member for New Zealand, Sarah Walker; and International Rally Driver, Emma Gilmour will also take place, moderated by former WNBA Basketballer, Megan Compain.
Megan Compain, Former WNBA Basketballer and panel moderator, says: “It is incredibly encouraging to see that 53% of all adult New Zealanders see gender equity in sport as an important social issue, and this stat is more or less equally supported across genders. This means the concentrated work and advocacy from the government, NSOs, and organisations such as Women in Sport Aotearoa to raise awareness of the importance of women and girls in sport is starting to pay off.”
“The timing couldn’t be better for New Zealand to take advantage of the three World Cups and hosting of the 8th IWG World Conference on Women in Sport, which we are staging over the next three years”.
Watch the full event here.
