Report to highlight barriers faced by women and girls in sport

The Times today reports that the Commission on the Future of Women's Sport (set up last year, and chaired by Tanni Grey-Thompson) will publish their findings tomorrow (Tuesday).

The main conclusion seems to be that women and girls face major barriers when they come to play sport - especially traditionally male-dominated sports like rugby - due to the way many of these sports are run by "Old Boy networks" of former (invariably male) players. It highlights the way in which the governing bodies of a quarter of the 46 sports studied - including rugby - currently have no female members. The report will say that "we’re trapped by our history in sport of old-school committees and members’ clubs".

The result is governing bodies that are "out of touch with half the population and risk compromising elite performance" due to an in-built conservatism and resistance to change. Such sports, the report will say, are often charaterised by a "macho culture inhospitable to working mothers, a lack of champions at the top and discrimination at the grassroots through stereotyping and inadequate facilities". These are barriers to both female participation and women landing the most senior jobs in sport.

Sue Tibballs of the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation is quoted as saying that "more women want to play sport but the way sport is led means it is failing to capitalise on the opportunity to grow grassroots participation and enjoy greater elite success". This is echoed by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, who said that “things have to change. I do not believe there are not the qualified women out there. Some sports are trying to change but others have more entrenched views.”

These appear to be just the first findings of the Commission - but the real question is less about what its final conclusions will be but rather more what (if anything) will be done. Though the Commission was established with the support of government, it is not a government report - and even if it was it difficult to see what government would do. Legislation is unlikely, but (on the other hand) are these "old boys networks" really likely to voluntarily change just by being shown the error of their ways?