I ATTENDED the 2016 Women’s Sport Trust Awards in London last week and was delighted to be one of three nominees for the role of Ambassador in Sport.
The accolade went to Heather Bamforth, who established The Racing Chance Foundation, an organisation that provides women with a pathway in competitive cycling in England and Wales.
The room was full of men and women from all walks of life but sharing these ambitions: to change the face of sport for women and girls and bring equality to the forefront; to lobby for more coverage for women’s sport; to bring more investment into sport; and to address the imbalance that exists in all other areas of sport that impacts on women and girls.
For me, the overriding memory of the night was the keynote speaker, John Amaechi OBE. The former NBA basketball player shocked us by saying he didn’t think women should fight for equality … before swiftly adding that it is the responsibility of all of us.
John, now an educator and broadcaster in Europe and the United States, then spoke about all the benefits that would be gained by the many corners of our society should they embrace a more equitable sporting environment.
He is a wonderfully powerful orator, and he presented us all with an equally powerful statement.
Back in Scotland, Scottish Women in Sport are looking forward to their own awards dinner in Glasgow in November. It is always a glamorous occasion that brings together athletes, volunteers, coaches, companies and supporters to celebrate women in sport. We will present eights awards and showcase the talent that is, on many occasions, still hidden from the general public. More information will be available on our website shortly.
Our thoughts are also with Scotland’s Commonwealth Games judo silver medallist, Stephanie Inglis, who is being treated in intensive care in a hospital in Vietnam after a freak motorbike accident and remains critically ill.
Stephanie, who had been working with underprivileged children in Vietnam for four months, suffered a severe blow to the head.
She was taken to the local hospital where she lay for three hours while a debate raged about who would pay for her care.
Back home, the pain and devastation experienced by her family and friends is tangible. They felt lost, alone and vulnerable.
However, through the hard work and resilience of Stephanie’s friend Khalid Gehlan, and several others, there is a chink of light at the end of this black tunnel.
Khalid set up a GoFundMe page to raise awareness of Stephanie’s plight, as well as money to help pay for her care. Only days after this dreadful accident occurred, the fund stands at more than £211,000.
What an amazing achievement by this young man and it is a great reflection on the kindness of the Scots and, in particular, the Scottish sporting community who have come together at this moment in time and given hope to this emotionally drained family.
There is still a need to continue to raise funds to help support Stephanie and to bring her back home. The fund is still open, so if you want to help, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/23yq67t4
Maureen McGonigle is the founder of Scottish Women in Sport
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here