ITF

ITF World Spring 2021 19 A star-studded line-up will come together to debate and advance the gender equality discussion as the ITF, together with event partner iSPORTCONNECT, prepares to host a global forum, entitled Level the Playing Field, on 12 April. Forming part of the ITF's Advantage All gender equality strategy, the one- off event will be hosted by renowned sports presenter and journalist Catherine Whitaker and include a live interview with special guest Billie Jean King. The Level the Playing Field forum will unite influential and inspirational individuals from sport and business to address key issues and advocate for greater gender equality through proactive discussion. After a live interview with King, two panel sessions will take place. The first will focus on challenging the status quo, overcoming hidden barriers and how to increase the number of women in leadership positions within sports administration. To be moderated by Nuala Walsh, vice chair of UN Women, the panel will contain Olympic royalty in the form of Africa's most decorated Olympian, Kirsty Coventry, and fellow gold medallist Angela Ruggiero. Seven-time Olympic medal-winning swimmer Coventry is now an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and chair of the organisation's Athletes' Commission, while she is also vice president of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee. American Ruggiero, meanwhile, is a four-time Olympic ice hockey player who won gold at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. She was a member of the IOC from 2010 to 2018 and is a former chair of the Athletes' Commission. The discussion will explore numerous important topics and seek answers to a series of pertinent questions: how can organisations attract more women into sport and sports administration roles? Once in the industry, how can those organisations empower and enable them to rise to leadership positions? Expanding the discussion, the conversation will also explore whether quotas work and if the sports industry can be a leader in enabling women to have both careers and children. Thoughts will then be shared on how old prejudices and unconscious bias can be eliminated so a culture of inclusivity and equal opportunity can be created. The second panel discussion will focus on unique new global research into the portrayal, perception and representation of sportswomen across the media and social media. The fascinating debate will feature the views of 2020 US Open finalist Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, who reached the summit of tennis in 2012 after claiming the No. 1 spot in the world rankings. Tennis will also be represented by former top 10 player turned broadcaster Chanda Rubin, who contested the semi-finals of the 1996 Australian Open and is now also an ITF Junior Committee member. Another former world No. 1, 72-time LPGA winner Annika Sorenstam, who was elected president of the International Golf Federation in December, is also on the panel, as is footballer Caroline Weir. Attacking midfielder Weir plays for Manchester City "The discussion will explore numerous important topics and seek answers to a series of pertinent questions…" Right The forum will include a live interview with Billie Jean King and Scotland, while the final position on the panel is taken by Peter Hutton, Facebook's director of global sports partnerships, who will provide invaluable industry insight. To aid the debate, the ITF has commissioned Ipsos Mori to undertake a first- of-its kind research project looking at the portrayal, perception and representation of sportswomen across the media and social media. The research will report on how the representation of male and female athletes varies and show whether there are key differences by market and media type and if a difference in consumer searches between male and female players exists. The Level the Playing Field event will also explore the important role that men play to champion women in sport with insight into best practice and stories of positive change. The topics on the agenda very much chime with the ITF's Advantage All gender equality strategy, which was created to further tennis as an equal advantage sport where everyone is provided the same advantage and opportunity, both on and off the court. Supported by the Foundation for Global Sports Development, Advantage All aims to empower women to take leadership positions in all areas of the sport, maintain balanced participation, raise the commercial appeal of the women's game, grow awareness and manage the media image of women's tennis and create a culture that includes and inspires all. n ADVANTAGE ALL

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