LEADERS SHINE AT WORLD CUP
‘Young girls have to look to women who have achieved greatness’
On Saturday, as Canada hosts England in the FIFA Women’s World Cup quarter-finals at B.C. Place, many British Columbians will cheer the squad not only for its achievements but for the inspiration it offers young female athletes.
Becki Ross, a professor at UBC’s Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice, said that historically there has existed a fear that female athletes are “interlopers or trespassers” on boys’ and men’s terrain.
“Being athletic and being sporty — and that involves sweating and training and practising and learning strategy — all of that, really, is cool for girls,” Ross said.
“Young girls have to look to women who have achieved greatness and who are excellent at what they do.”
Ross said the attention commanded by the World Cup serves to promote “democratic participation” in a sport more accessible for children from all backgrounds.
Record-setting attendance in Vancouver has been encouraging, Ross said, but there remains a need for more female participation both on and off the field — and for more resources so that female players aren’t “eking out a living” when they return home from international competitions.
Canada’s quarter-final qualification is “so important” for women’s soccer in the country, said Tom Berry, president of the Burnaby Girls Soccer Club, where Canadian team captain Christine Sinclair began her remarkable career.
“It certainly raises the profile of the game, especially from the female side,” he said.
Berry said his club expects increased registration this year after seeing numbers spike following the Canadian women’s third-place finish at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Premier Christy Clark said in an email she hopes to catch the “inspiring” match in person.
“Think of what that means for all the fans but especially kids, and especially young girls,” Clark said of Canada’s quarter-final qualification.
“It tells them they can compete on the world stage — that they should be unafraid to aim high and work for success, whether it’s in sports or any endeavour they may choose. It’s a wonderful message.”