Louise Sauvage, Cathy Freeman, Betty Cuthbert and Sam Kerr are some of the sporting legends who could be honoured under a NSW Labor commitment to naming stadium stands after female sports icons – starting with a stand at Stadium Australia (Accor Stadium).
A Minns Labor government will conduct a public consultation process to determine which sporting icon will be honoured first, in response to calls for better recognition of great female athletes.
Currently, the Sydney Cricket Ground does not have any stands named after female athletes and the new Sydney Football Stadium in Moore Park has named four men who will have stands named after them.
Stadium Australia in western Sydney does not have names allocated to any of its stands.
NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns said:
Sitting in a stadium stand named after a female sporting legend will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of female athletes at the Olympics, Rugby League or in the A-League Women. It’s a no brainer – and there’s no shortage of wonderful female sporting legends in Australia to choose from.”
“Female participation in sport is growing rapidly in NSW, yet we do not recognise great female athletes appropriately. We will make a start in fixing this by naming a stand in Stadium Australia.”
Shadow Minister for Sport Julia Finn said “What better way to acknowledge the contribution of female athletes than by naming a stand at Stadium Australia”.
“But we want every new stadium project in Sydney and regional NSW to recognise female sport legends in a similar manner”.
Shadow Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said “We are quick to recognise the contribution of men in sport, but there is little recognition of women and that needs to be fixed.”
The NSW Government owns and operates four stadiums in Sydney through Venues NSW, and one stadium each in Newcastle and Wollongong.