Awards goal to kick sport bias into touch
THE inaugural Investec 20x20 Media Awards launched yesterday to recognise and reward excellence in Irish journalism focused on Women in Sport.
Investec is a proud sponsor of 20x20, an initiative presented by The Federation of Irish Sport which calls on the people of Ireland to provide more support for women in sport.
In demonstrating its commitment to the initiative, Investec has created this new awards scheme to help change the perceptions of women’s sport.
The Investec 20x20 Media Awards recognises that increased visibility will lead to greater cultural recognition of girls and women in sport.
Broadcast, print and online journalists are invited to “show their stripes” and submit entries on Women in Sport via www.investec.ie/20x20 from February to November, with a winner announced each month. Entries to the
Investec’s Lisa Curtin with hockey ace Lauren Walsh at 20x20 launch yesterday awards can be submitted by nominees themselves or on behalf of journalists by editors or peers across the media spectrum.
Investec’s expert panel of judges will select one outstanding piece of journalism to award each month recognising and acknowledging that journalist’s contribution to women’s sport. The monthly winner will receive a €1,000 prize.
An overall annual If She Can’t See It, She Can’t Be It Winner 2019 will be announced in December.
The judges panel comprises chairwoman Anna Kessel, Federation of Irish Sport’s Mary O’connor, Investec’s Michael Cullen, Along Came A Spider chief Sarah Colgan and rugby hero Gordon D’arcy.
Ms Colgan, a co-founder of 20x20, added: “The campaign is starting to gain real momentum since the initiative launched in October.
“Media companies have organically picked up on this very important national topic and have taken positive steps towards delivering on one of the key objectives of 20x20, which is to increase the level of coverage of women’s sport across media by 20% by the end of 2020. The Investec 20x20 Media Awards will help us get there.”
And Ms O’connor added: “It is hugely important to recognise the work of the media and their value to the campaign.
“As we know, the pillar to increase media coverage by 20% by 2020 relies intrinsically on the hardworking journalists covering women’s sport week in and week out and their colleagues who in the past may not have had the same drive or opportunity to report on women’s sport.
“I have no doubt that the Investec 20x20 Media Awards will not only encourage more coverage of our female athletes, coaches and teams but also showcase some of the inspiring female sporting role-model stories from around the nation.
“I look forward to enjoying the submissions to the awards and the fantastic female success stories they will tell.” SOCCER hero Kevin Kilbane and Dublin football legend Mossy Quinn went head to head in a footie game – to Show Some Heart.
The pair were playing in charity five-a-side for the Irish Heart Foundation, helped on by former Republic managers Brian Kerr and Johnny Giles.
The team at Off The Ball organised a Culchies versus Dubs challenge laid down by the charity – to organise the Perfect Match and raise funds to help the Irish Heart Foundation beat heart disease.
Off The Ball’s Ger Gilroy said: “The team at Off The Ball is delighted to be involved with The Irish Heart Foundation’s Perfect Match campaign and help support and build awareness around the levels of heart disease in Ireland.
“Today’s game in The National Sports Campus was really enjoyable, where Kevin Kilbane’s Off The Ball Culchies took on Mossy Quinn’s Off The Ball Dubs in a five-a-side match. We think it’s a great opportunity for you to challenge your local team to the Perfect Match and raise funds for The Irish Heart Foundation.”