Editorial

Gender equality in sports

Fijian women continue to be at the losing end of what many people like to say the never-ending rule of men.

Although much talked about, the topic of gender equality remains something that people like to just merely talk about.
 

While concerns have been raised on such stereotypical thinking, this issue is not one which will suddenly seize to exist. This phenomenon actually has been existent in the Fijian society dating back almost to the era of our forefathers where women were rarely, if not never, asked for opinions during times of decision making.
 

Over the years women have and continue to bare the tags of being inferior to their male counterparts in all facets of life, be it in the households or at workplaces.
 

One area in which women bare most of the brunt of being neglected is that of sports. Most of the focus has always been on the male dominated sports like Rugby and Soccer with an exception of some sports who actually give priority to women participation.
 

But all that is changing now. Sporting federations have now began to recognise the need for equal opportunities to be provided for both women and men in sports.
 

Gone are the days where athletes, especially females, had to raise funds and depend on last minute sponsorship and donations from companies in order to participate at meets.
 

The sporting bodies of the so-called male dominated sports such as Rugby and Soccer are now focusing on ways through which more women can be encouraged to participate.

The only sport so far that balances between males and females whenever there are opportunities that come up is the sport of Athletics.

Talented athletes are awarded scholarships from universities every year after the annual Coca Cola Games to have a chance to go and better themselves both academically and improve their talents as well.
 

Some athletes who currently are under the scholarship scheme include former Yat Sen student Milika Tuivanuavou (at Fresno Pacific), Ana Kaloucava, Alisha Dickinson and Selina Gusuivalu (New Mexico Military Institute).
 

Some athletes from the minor but upcoming sporting federations who also have managed to acquire a scholarship for themselves at the New Mexico Military Institute are Adalyn Hazelman of Fiji Tennis and Agatha Gibbons of Fiji Volleyball. Fiji Basketball's Milika Koyamainavure is based at Iowa Central through the Oceanic Foundation Scholarship initiative.
 

The Fijian women's hockey team qualified for the World Hockey League Round 2 games in India where they performed to the best of their abilities.
 

The biggest step taken by Fijian women in sports was that of Fiji Netball as they managed to secure a $0.5 million sponsorship from Pearl South Pacific Resort. With the contract signed for three years, the national team will now be able to engage in more frequent international competitions especially with the Pacific Netball Series in Samoa and U21 Netball World Cup in Scotland, the team definitely should fully ready. And with plans already in the pipeline for more international exposure, the Fiji Pearls should have a good outing at the Netball World Cup in Sydney 2015 as well.
 

Companies like Pearl South Pacific should be commended in stepping up to support a sport which is solely dominated by women.

Given similar kind of support and trust from other companies and organisations, Fijian women in sports should definitely succeed.

One important lesson everyone should learn from Iliesa Delana, who won recently won the Medal of the Order of Fiji, is that doing is believing and nothing can be achieved if one does not try in life.