Faith Mazibuko, MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, has called on big business to support sport for women, during the Women in Sport Dialogue, held at the Turffontein Race Course on Saturday, 03 September 2016.
“Women spend more than men when it comes to retail shopping, in turn those businesses sponsor male dominated sport. It is high time that women fight for equality in sport and emulate what the women of 1956 did, taking a stance against inequality”, said MEC Mazibuko.
The Women is Sport Dialogue, which was attended by Gauteng’s cream of the crop in women sport, was held in partnership with the University of Johannesburg to increase and enhance opportunities for participation of women in sport.
“There needs to be transformation to elevate women sport which is perceived as a mere leisure and recreation to being more competitive. High performance centres should also be used to groom a generation of women who will compete with the world’s best athletes”, added MEC Mazibuko.
MEC also encouraged women to turn sport into a business, which will in turn assist them to make a living from doing what they love. Women must take a lead in the sporting arena and stop being spectators.
Sports facilities for women sport are being turned into gardens because women sporting codes are not valued. The establishment of professional leagues for women sporting codes will assist in keeping facilities intact and utilized.
In conclusion MEC Mazibuko said:” By nurturing the excellence of women in sport, we will begin to tell “her story” which will assist women to reach their full potential in sport. As the Gauteng Provincial Government, we have no doubt that our sports women can compete with the best in the world. Let us always carry the flag that Gauteng is the home of champions and that champions are only found in Gauteng”.
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