Welsh sporting legend wants policies to keep more girls involved in sport

Multiple gold medal winning Paralympian, and current Chair of Sport Wales, Tanni Grey-Thompson is calling on the next Welsh Government to adopt several policies to help to keep more girls engaged in sport and physical activity from a young age.

In the run up to the Welsh Senedd elections next spring, she is urging political parties to include policies in their manifestos which will help to level the playing field for women and girls as well as supporting other groups of people who are currently under-represented in sport.

One recommendation is to increase funding for sport in Wales to comparable levels in similar countries. To be on a par with European nations of a similar population size, an additional £208m annual investment is needed.

However, Grey-Thompson emphasised that any new sport policies shouldn’t just involve throwing extra money at the problem.

 It’s about using the funding wisely. We’re really enthused by the way our partners who deliver sport in Wales are working to break down the barriers that hold women and girls back and are creating sporting environments where everyone can thrive – whenever, wherever, however and for life. Increased investment would support even more of this work.”

Tanni-Grey Thompson, Chair of Sport Wales

Another recommendation is for Wales to have a completely new approach to young people’s engagement in physical activity in and around the school day, which in turn will support more girls to be engaged in sport.

Grey-Thompson pointed out that while progress has been made in some areas during the last couple of decades, certainly in terms of exposure and visibility for women’s elite sport, participation inequalities still exist. The simple fact is that fewer women and girls participate in sport than men and boys in Wales.  

Read all the manifesto recommendations HERE

Header image: Jeffrey F. Lin / Unsplash