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==Olympic recognition==
==Olympic recognition==
The lack of inclusion of netball in the [[Summer Olympics]] has historically been viewed as an anomaly.<ref name=Dyer-205>{{harvnb|Dyer|1982|p=205}}</ref> Throughout the history of the Olympics, sports popular exclusively with women or that have been very popular with women have been excluded.<ref name=Dyer-205/> The situation extends beyond netball to women's cycling, which was excluded for many years despite having world championships for women being organised by 1958.<ref name=Dyer-205/> It extended to [[field hockey]], which was a sport included for men as early as 1908 but not competed by women until 1980.<ref name=Dyer-205/> [[Lawn bowls]] is another extremely popular women's sport.<ref name=Dyer-205/> It has been included in the [[Commonwealth Games]] for many years but has not made the Olympic programme.<ref name=Dyer-205/> Netball allows for the existence of mixed gendered teams<ref name=Symons-122>{{harvnb|Symons|Hemphill|2006|p=122}}</ref><ref name=samoa-men>{{harvnb|Samoa Observer|2011}}</ref>, but the Olympics do not allow mixed gendered team sports.<ref name=Dyer-205/>
The lack of inclusion of netball in the [[Summer Olympics]] has historically been viewed as part of a pattern of exclusion of women's sports.<ref name=Dyer-205>{{harvnb|Dyer|1982|p=205}}</ref> Throughout the history of the Olympics, sports popular exclusively with women or that have been very popular with women have been excluded.<ref name=Dyer-205/> The situation extends beyond netball to women's cycling, which was excluded for many years despite having world championships for women being organised by 1958.<ref name=Dyer-205/> It extends to [[field hockey]], a sport included for men as early as 1908 but not competed by women until 1980.<ref name=Dyer-205/> [[Lawn bowls]] is a popular women's sport that has been included in the [[Commonwealth Games]] for many years but has not made the Olympic program.<ref name=Dyer-205/> While primarily a sport for women, Netball allows for mixed gendered teams,<ref name=Symons-122>{{harvnb|Symons|Hemphill|2006|p=122}}</ref><ref name=samoa-men>{{harvnb|Samoa Observer|2011}}</ref> but the Olympics do not allow mixed gendered team sports.<ref name=Dyer-205/>


The issues facing netball are part of a larger problem involving female participation in the Olympics.<ref name=Dyer-205>{{harvnb|Dyer|1982|p=205}}</ref> At the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] in [[Barcelona]], there were 159 sports for men to compete in, only 86 sports for women to compete in and 12 sorts for both men and women to compete in.<ref name=pfistertews-274>{{harvnb|Pfister|Hartmann-Tews|2002|p=274}}</ref> At the [[2000 Summer Olympics]], there were still sports that women were excluded from participating in: [[Boxing]], [[wrestling]] and [[baseball]].<ref name=pfistertews-274/> The issue of male over representation for total number of sports and total male athletes is structural: In the [[United Kingdom]], more male athletes than female athletes received financial support.<ref name=pfistertews-274/> Sports officials in the United Kingdom rationalise this uneven distribution of funding by claiming that there are more opportunities for men to win on the highest level than there are comparable opportunities for women.<ref name=pfistertews-274/>
The issues facing netball are part of a larger problem involving female participation in the Olympics.<ref name=Dyer-205/> At the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] in [[Barcelona]], there were 159 sports for men to compete in, but only 86 sports for women, and 12 sports for both men and women.<ref name=pfistertews-274>{{harvnb|Pfister|Hartmann-Tews|2002|p=274}}</ref> At the [[2000 Summer Olympics]], there were still sports that women were excluded from participating in, such as [[boxing]], [[wrestling]] and [[baseball]]. The issue of male over-representation in terms of total number of sports and athletes is structural. In the [[United Kingdom]], for example, more male athletes than female athletes received financial support. Sports officials rationalised this uneven distribution of funding by claiming that there are more opportunities for men to win on the highest level than there are comparable opportunities for women.<ref name=pfistertews-274/> The importance of netball being included as a competition sport in the Summer Olympics has been compared to [[softball]], and the benefits that the sport derived from Olympic inclusion.<ref name=Taylor-15>{{harvnb|Taylor|2001a|p=15}}</ref> This included additional media attention and television coverage, especially during Olympic years.<ref name=Taylor-15/>

The importance of netball being included as a competition sport in the Summer Olympics has been compared to softball, and the benefits that the sport derived from Olympic inclusion.<ref name=Taylor-15>{{harvnb|Taylor|2001a|p=15}}</ref> This included additional media attention and television coverage, especially during Olympic years.<ref name=Taylor-15/>


==Gaining recognition==
==Gaining recognition==
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Beyond access to funds from the International Olympic Committee, Olympic recognition is often a component for getting funding from state and national sporting bodies, and state and federal governments. This has been the case in Australia.<ref name=ascstatus-92>{{harvnb|Australian Sport Commission|Office of the Status of Women|1985|p=92}}</ref> In 1985, the Australian Sport Commission and the Office of the Status of Women identified five criteria for getting federal funding.<ref name=ascstatus-92/> One of these was: "its status as an Olympic sport and its size by registrations."<ref name=ascstatus-92/><ref group="note">Netball qualified for funding because it met the other criteria. From 1980 to 1984, the sport received {{AU$|497,000}} in funding.</ref>
Beyond access to funds from the International Olympic Committee, Olympic recognition is often a component for getting funding from state and national sporting bodies, and state and federal governments. This has been the case in Australia.<ref name=ascstatus-92>{{harvnb|Australian Sport Commission|Office of the Status of Women|1985|p=92}}</ref> In 1985, the Australian Sport Commission and the Office of the Status of Women identified five criteria for getting federal funding.<ref name=ascstatus-92/> One of these was: "its status as an Olympic sport and its size by registrations."<ref name=ascstatus-92/><ref group="note">Netball qualified for funding because it met the other criteria. From 1980 to 1984, the sport received {{AU$|497,000}} in funding.</ref>


Olympic recognition brought money for development into the sport.<ref name=Shooting-2004>{{harvnb|Shooting for Success|2004|p=1}}</ref> In 2004, IFNA received a grant of {{US$|10000}} from the IOC for development.<ref name=Shooting-2004>{{harvnb|Shooting for Success|2004|p=1}}</ref> IFNA was given an additional {{US$|3300}} a year until 2007 by The Association of IOC Recognized International Sports (ARISF).<ref name=Shooting-2004>{{harvnb|Shooting for Success|2004|p=1}}</ref>
Olympic recognition brought money for development into the sport.<ref name=Shooting-2004>{{harvnb|Shooting for Success|2004|p=1}}</ref> In 2004, IFNA received a grant of {{US$|10000}} from the IOC for development.<ref name=Shooting-2004>{{harvnb|Shooting for Success|2004|p=1}}</ref> IFNA was given an additional {{US$|3300}} a year until 2007 by the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports (ARISF).<ref name=Shooting-2004>{{harvnb|Shooting for Success|2004|p=1}}</ref>


==Media coverage==
==Media coverage==

Revision as of 01:38, 26 March 2011

Netball and the Olympic Movement
Highest governing bodyInternational Federation of Netball Associations
Presence
OlympicIOC-recognised, 1995

Netball is an Olympic recognised sport. The sport gained recognition in 1995, after a twenty year period of lobbying. It has never been played at the summer Olympics but recognition means that it could be played at some point in the future. Netball is similar to other women's popular sports like softball and lawn bowls in that they are also excluded from the Olympics. Its lack of inclusion has been seen by the netball community as a hindrance in the global growth of the game, by depriving it of media attention and additional funding sources. When the sport gained recognition in 1995, it opened up funds that the global netball community had not been able to access before. This included funds from the IOC, national Olympic committees, national sport organisations, and state and federal governments.

Olympic recognition

The lack of inclusion of netball in the Summer Olympics has historically been viewed as part of a pattern of exclusion of women's sports.[1] Throughout the history of the Olympics, sports popular exclusively with women or that have been very popular with women have been excluded.[1] The situation extends beyond netball to women's cycling, which was excluded for many years despite having world championships for women being organised by 1958.[1] It extends to field hockey, a sport included for men as early as 1908 but not competed by women until 1980.[1] Lawn bowls is a popular women's sport that has been included in the Commonwealth Games for many years but has not made the Olympic program.[1] While primarily a sport for women, Netball allows for mixed gendered teams,[2][3] but the Olympics do not allow mixed gendered team sports.[1]

The issues facing netball are part of a larger problem involving female participation in the Olympics.[1] At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, there were 159 sports for men to compete in, but only 86 sports for women, and 12 sports for both men and women.[4] At the 2000 Summer Olympics, there were still sports that women were excluded from participating in, such as boxing, wrestling and baseball. The issue of male over-representation in terms of total number of sports and athletes is structural. In the United Kingdom, for example, more male athletes than female athletes received financial support. Sports officials rationalised this uneven distribution of funding by claiming that there are more opportunities for men to win on the highest level than there are comparable opportunities for women.[4] The importance of netball being included as a competition sport in the Summer Olympics has been compared to softball, and the benefits that the sport derived from Olympic inclusion.[5] This included additional media attention and television coverage, especially during Olympic years.[5]

Gaining recognition

In 1995, netball became a permanent Olympic-recognised sport,[6][7][8][9] making it possible for the sport to be included in future games.[10][11] This came after a twenty year period of lobbying[7] and a two year probation period.[9] Recognition meant national associations could become full members of their countries' national Olympic committees.[7] All Australia Netball Association is one national organisation that became a full member of their national Olympic committee.[8] In 2004, Olympic recognition on the part of the IOC for International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) was renewed.[12] IFNA has made Olympic recognition part of its long term strategy towards continuing to grow the game.[12]

While netball may be the most popular women's participation sport in many Commonwealth countries like Tanzania, the effort to increase media attention and participation for women's sport often goes to Olympic sports with low participation rates, low rates of interest and few facilities.[13][11] The historic lack of Olympic recognition and lack inclusion of the sport in the Olympics had led to less media coverage for the sport, because most coverage of women's sport takes place at major championships that take place alongside men's events.[7]

At the games

In 1996, there was a possibility that netball could have been played at the 2000 Summer Olympics, a possibility that netball leadership actively pursued.[14] The government of New South Wales encouraged the Australian Olympic Committee to lobby for the inclusion of in 2008 Beijing Olympic games.[8]

Funding

The situation has also hampered the globalisation of the game in developing countries,[15] because the Olympic Solidarity Movement provides access to funding for these nations through the International Olympic Committee.[15] In some countries such as Tanzania, the lack of access to Olympic funding cuts off other funding options such funding by British Council.[13] Funding from the IOC, the Olympic Solidarity Movement and the British Council can be used to cover costs for travel to international competitions.[15] For some nations, without that assistance, trying to maintain international calibre teams has been difficult.[15]

Beyond access to funds from the International Olympic Committee, Olympic recognition is often a component for getting funding from state and national sporting bodies, and state and federal governments. This has been the case in Australia.[16] In 1985, the Australian Sport Commission and the Office of the Status of Women identified five criteria for getting federal funding.[16] One of these was: "its status as an Olympic sport and its size by registrations."[16][note 1]

Olympic recognition brought money for development into the sport.[12] In 2004, IFNA received a grant of US$10,000 from the IOC for development.[12] IFNA was given an additional US$3,300 a year until 2007 by the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports (ARISF).[12]

Media coverage

Historically, coverage and inclusion of women's team sports in the Olympics has been limited.[11] Instead, the media focuses on female athletes in non-team competitions and on team sports played equally by both genders.[11] The selection of women's teams sport in the Olympics may not match with interest levels in a country.[11] In Australia for example, 245,300 total women and girls play basketball, hockey, soccer, softball and volleyball.[11] This compares to 319,500 women and girls who play netball.[11]

Opposition to Olympic recognition

Some supporters of netball have argued that by trying to internationalise the game and be included in the Olympics has moved netball away from a model of women's sport and more towards a male model of competitive sport. This is viewed by some sport people as potentially detrimental to the game:[17]

Geary (1995) has debated whether moves to commercialisation would ultimately benefit netball or women's sport. She speculated that professionalising netball might help challenge traditional structures, which have reinforced sport as a site of exploitation and subordination of women. On the other hand there was a danger that such moves would represent conformation to a male model of sport and merely perpetuate a masculine hegemony of capitalist rationality and female discrimination. Broomhall (1993) argued in favour of the latter, that in striving for greater internationalisation, aiming for Olympic competition, and trying to attract sponsorship, women have moved netball closer to a male model of competitive and aggressive sport.[17]

Olympic Awards and Scholarships

In 1995, two of the scholarships offered by the Oceania Olympic Training Centre were given to netballers.[18] They were given to Janaet Snape and Darlene Marsters.[18] The Oceania Olympic Training Centre also made it possible for Mona-Lisa Leka from Papau New Guinea to go to Australia to train.[18]

In 2007, the IOC awarded Veitu Apana Diro, the Vice-President of the NOC of Papua New, the Trophy for Oceania. This recognition came in part because she had created the nation's national netball organisation in 1965 and actively promoted women's involvement in netball around the country.[19]

Notes

  1. ^ Netball qualified for funding because it met the other criteria. From 1980 to 1984, the sport received A$497,000 in funding.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Dyer 1982, p. 205
  2. ^ Symons & Hemphill 2006, p. 122
  3. ^ Samoa Observer 2011
  4. ^ a b Pfister & Hartmann-Tews 2002, p. 274
  5. ^ a b Taylor 2001a, p. 15
  6. ^ Smartt & Chalmers 2009
  7. ^ a b c d Taylor 2001, p. 67
  8. ^ a b c Parliament of New South Wales 2004, p. 11179
  9. ^ a b Netball Australia 1996, p. 6
  10. ^ International Federation of Netball Associations
  11. ^ a b c d e f g Jones 2004, p. 143
  12. ^ a b c d e Shooting for Success 2004, p. 1
  13. ^ a b Massoa & Fasting 2002, p. 120
  14. ^ Netball Australia 1996, p. 7
  15. ^ a b c d Crocombe 1992, p. 156
  16. ^ a b c Australian Sport Commission & Office of the Status of Women 1985, p. 92
  17. ^ a b Taylor 2001a, p. 16
  18. ^ a b c Netball Australia 1996, p. 12
  19. ^ International Olympic Committee 2007, p. 2

Bibliography

  • Australian Sport Commission; Office of the Status of Women (1985). Women, Sport and the Media. Australian Government Publishing Services. ISBN 0644041552. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Crocombe, R G (2007). Asia in the Pacific Islands : replacing the West. CIPS Publications, University of the South Pacific. ISBN 9820203880. OCLC 213886360. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Dyer, K F (1982). Challenging the Men, The social biology of female sporting achievement. University of Queensland Press. ISBN 0702216526. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • International Federation of Netball Associations. "About IFNA". Retrieved 7 March 2011. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • International Olympic Committee (2007). "IOC 2007 WOMEN & SPORT TROPHY WINNERS" (PDF). Retrieved 26 March 2011. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Jones, Diane (2004). "Half the Story? Olympic Women on the ABC News Online" (PDF). Media International Australia incorporating Culture and Policy (110): 132–146. Retrieved 15 March 2011. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Massoa, Prisca; Fasting, Kari (2002). "Women and sport in Tanzania". In Pfister, Gertrud; Hartmann-Tews, Ilse (eds.). Sport and Women: Social Issues in International Perspective. International Society for Comparative Physical Education & Sport. Routledge. ISBN 0415246288. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Netball Australia (1996). "All Australian Netball Association 1995 Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved 26 March 2011. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |day= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Alison Megarrity (2004). http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20040921018. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Parliament of New South Wales: Legislative Assembly. col. 11179–11179. {{cite book}}: |chapter-url= missing title (help); Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |day= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Pfister, Gertrud; Hartmann-Tews, Ilse (2002). "Women's inclusion in sport, International and comparative findings". In Pfister, Gertrud; Hartmann-Tews, Ilse (eds.). Sport and Women: Social Issues in International Perspective. International Society for Comparative Physical Education & Sport. Routledge. pp. 267–280. ISBN 0415246288. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Samoa Observer (2008). "Samoa prepares for World netball series". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 1 March 2011. {{cite news}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |day= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Shooting for Success (2004). "IFNA Recognition Confirmed" (PDF). International Federation of Netball Associations. Retrieved 24 March 2011. {{cite news}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Smartt, Pam; Chalmers, David (2009). "Obstructing the goal? Hospitalisation for netball injury in New Zealand 2000–2005". The New Zealand Medical Journal. 122 (1288). {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Text "urlhttp://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/122-1288/3438/" ignored (help)
  • Symons, Carol; Hemphill, Dennis (2006). "Netball and transgender participation". In Caudwell, Jayne (ed.). Sport, sexualities and queer/theory. Routledge Critical Studies in Sport. Routledge. pp. 122–124. ISBN 0415367611. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Taylor, Tracy (2001). "Gendering Sport: The Development of Netball in Australia" (PDF). Sporting Traditions, Journal of the Australian Society for Sports History. 18 (1): 57–74. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  • Taylor, Tracy (2001a). "Netball in Australia: A Social History" (PDF). Working Paper Series (2). School of Leisure, Sport and Tourism, UTS: 1–22. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

See also


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