Positive terms of what is available and being done on a local, national and global scale to support female athletes to become more involved in sport or physical activities.
In the Paris Olympic Games in 1900, women were finally allowed to compete in sports such as tennis, golf, and croquet. This was the first major step to support female athletes on a global scale, as before women were not permitted to compete in any Olympic events. In 1912, women were competing in swimming events and 28 years later, women were now allowed to compete in track and field events. In 1952, 24 years down the track, women were competing in equestrian events. In 1984, women's shooting events were included in the Olympics. 12 years later in 1996, a Women's only softball team was introduced (softball is no longer an Olympic sport). In the 2000 Olympics, women were allowed to compete in weightlifting and then 4 years later in 2004 a women's wrestling competition was introduced. By this stage, almost all the events were available for both genders to compete in. Then in 2007, the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament announced they will pay women and men equal prize money. This was possibly one of the biggest steps the world could have taken to support female athlete's careers and participation. Due to all the opportunities provided to female athletes, in 2016 at the Rio Olympics, 44% of the medals were awarded in women's events, which is the highest amount there has ever been.
National scale:
The Australian Government has put together a game plan to get more Australians participating in sports programs, this organisation is called the Australian Sports Commission or ASC. This organisation has also developed the Women in Sports Leadership Register, which is a free service which encourages women with qualifications, interest, and experience to sign up and become a sports leader. Another organisation set up by the Victorian Government and Victoria University have developed ‘Count Us In', which offers advice to program providers developing physical activity programs for women. Due to organisations like these, male and female participation rates (in sport) are becoming close to equal. Another major step was that earlier this year the AFL introduced a National Women's League. This event has sparked a growing interest in women's sport and has heated up the competition between sporting organisations. This fierce rivalry couldn't be more positive for female athletes, suggesting a bright future ahead and a growing number of supporters, sponsors, and funding. Netball Australia (NA) has also just recently signed a landmark deal that will pay Australian netballers the highest paid women's code in the nation. This year, their average salary will increase to $67,500 whilst Marquee players will earn $100,000 plus. This is another step closer to female athletes earning the same or at least similar amount of money as male athletes.
Local scale:
Just recently the South Australian Government has decided to fund the Adelaide AFL club's Women's team and contribute $275,000. On a local scale, this is huge that women sport is now receiving funding from the SA Government. Another thing being done here in South Australia is being given the chance to win an ultimate sports package by attending one of six upcoming women's sporting events. This incentive to cheer on our state's Sportswomen was developed by the South Australian Women in Sports Taskforce. Women's sport has been taken to the next level, this year especially thanks to sporting organisations and the media. In Adelaide, there are also a number of sports available for young female athletes to part take in, such as joining a sports club or playing a school sport.
The support given globally, nationally and locally is all making a difference and providing more opportunities for female athletes to become very successful. Their contribution is making a visible difference in the growing number of female athletes participating in sport.