Today is Women’s and Girls' Day at the Australian Open, a day to celebrate women in tennis and help promote further inclusion and equality within the sport.
Before the two exciting women’s singles semi-final match-ups on Rod Laver Arena tonight, The AO Inspirational Series will feature key-note speakers including Caroline Wozniacki and Sophie Delezio.
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There will also be a variety of fun initiatives and activities around the precinct to further shine a light on the message and purpose behind Women’s and Girls' Day at the AO.
"The AO Inspirational Series is a vital platform to celebrate equality and amplify the voices of remarkable women who continue to shape our world," Australian Open Tournament Director and CEO of Tennis Australia Craig Tiley stated.
One exciting development surrounding women and girls in tennis has been a A$992,000 funding initiative provided by the Albanese Government to Tennis Australia, "to deliver programs in up to 60 clubs to improve the participation and retention of women and girls from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities" (Tennis Australia Media).
This exciting investment was issued “under the participation and equipment stream of the government’s A$200 million Play Our Way Program to remove barriers faced by women and girls in sport” (Tennis Australia Media).
With a focus on culturally diverse communities, more girls and women will be able to have better access and opportunities within tennis and outside of it for a better future.
Starting in July this year, "Tennis Australia will work with up to 60 tennis clubs across Australia, supervising tailored measures in each club to assist 30 CALD women and girls on average." (Tennis Australia Media).
"The funding will help break down barriers, create lasting opportunities and inspire the next generation of players from all backgrounds to reach their full potential in tennis and beyond," Tiley added.
The importance of this initiative is highlighted by the positive impacts playing sports has on girls and women that extend further than the tennis court into all facets of life.
Per unwomen.org.au, "Girls who play sports develop self-esteem, confidence, resilience, and learn to work in teams. They tend to stay in school longer, delay pregnancy, and get better jobs."
Furthermore, "Despite the evidence of clear benefits, by the age of 14 girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys due to several factors, such as social expectations, lack of investment in quality programmes, and more."
Women’s and Girls' Day at the Australian Open as well as work by Tennis Australia will continue to advocate for better equality for women and girls in tennis, creating a brighter future for the players and communities involved in our sport.
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