Women's sport coverage: ide esai IELTS

Women's sport now attracts more broadcast time and larger prizes than it did a generation ago. I believe this is a positive development, although there is still progress to be made.

The main benefit is fairness. Female athletes train as hard as their male counterparts, and until recently they were rewarded with far less attention and money. Better coverage and pay mean that more women can pursue sport as a profession instead of a hobby, and the opportunities they receive are closer to those given to men. Such visibility also creates role models. A girl who watches the Women's World Cup or sees Serena Williams win a title is likely to imagine a sporting future for herself, and more girls taking part brings health and confidence benefits. Furthermore, interest from broader audiences, including families and younger fans, has increased overall attendance and sponsorship.

It would be wrong, though, to claim that equality has been reached. In most sports, there is still a large gap in pay and in the amount of television coverage, and in some leagues players have to take second jobs. In addition, with greater money comes commercial pressure. Women athletes are sometimes expected to promote products or to match a particular image, and attention may focus on appearance instead of performance. There are also unhelpful comparisons with men's sport, which can lead to the unfair conclusion that women's competitions are less exciting.

Governments, broadcasters and sports federations should continue to close the gap, for example by equalising prize money, as Wimbledon and the US Open have done, and by showing women's events in popular time slots.

In conclusion, the growth in coverage and prizes is a welcome step that promotes equality and inspires girls, and the remaining challenges are reasons to continue the progress rather than to doubt it.