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 Accor Stadium.
NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns said a Labor government would consult with the public to determine which sporting icon would be honoured first, in response to calls for better recognition of great female athletes.
The Sydney Cricket Ground does not have any stands named after female athletes, the new Sydney Football Stadium in Moore Park has named four men who will have stands named after them and Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park does not have names allocated to any of its stands.
“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,” Mr Minn said.
‘It’s a no brainer – and there’s no shortage of wonderful female sporting legends in Australia to choose from.”
Shadow Minister for Sport, Granville MP Julia Finn, says they want every new stadium project in Sydney and regional NSW to recognise female sport legends.
“What better way to acknowledge the contribution of female athletes than by naming a stand at Stadium Australia,” she said.
“This is so important for young girls like the ones we have here, who put all their passion and effort into playing sport, to know that if they go into that as a career and if they represent Australia, and they win, their legacy will be remembered forever, not just until a few months later, they’ll get the same recognition that men now get with a lifetime and longer of recognition through having their name on stadiums and on stands in stadiums.”