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Coventry wants consensus among sports on protecting women's category

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Saturday, September 13th 2025 at 14:08 GMT by reuters.com
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Coventry Calls for a Unified Stand to Safeguard Women’s Sports Categories

Coventry, United Kingdom – September 13 2025 – A coalition of sports organisations, local government officials, and athlete representatives gathered this week in Coventry to push for a consensus on protecting women’s categories across a broad spectrum of sports. The meeting, organised by the Coventry Sports Partnership (CSP), comes amid growing concerns that financial pressures and a perceived “streamlining” agenda could erode the structural integrity of women’s competitions in disciplines ranging from athletics and rugby to e‑sports.

Why the Conversation Matters

Historically, women’s sports have faced uneven investment, limited media exposure, and a dearth of role models, all of which have hampered participation rates. While the last decade saw notable gains—such as the 2024 FIFA Women’s World Cup breaking viewership records and the introduction of the Women’s Premier League in rugby—there remains a fragile consensus that these categories must be preserved in the long term.

“The world is watching how we treat women’s sports,” said Dr. Aisha Patel, head of Women’s Sporting Equality at Coventry University. “If we allow categories to disappear because of cost-saving narratives, we risk reversing progress made in gender parity and undermining athletes’ livelihoods.”

Patel cited a 2024 statement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which highlighted “cost efficiency” as a key driver for potential restructuring of some events. While the IOC has not formally proposed merging men’s and women’s categories, the rhetoric has spurred national federations to consider similar moves.

Key Stakeholders in the Dialogue

The coalition’s composition underscores the breadth of the issue. Representatives from the following bodies attended the Coventry forum:

• UK Athletics – The national governing body for track and field, which recently launched a new “Women’s Category Protection Fund” to support grassroots clubs.
• The Football Association (FA) – Advocated for a formal “women’s protection clause” within the FA’s long‑term strategic plan.
• World Rugby – Signed an open letter urging federations to maintain a distinct women’s competition structure.
• International Basketball Federation (FIBA) – Emphasised the necessity of separate women’s leagues to preserve competitive balance.
• UK eSports Association – Raised concerns that mixed‑gender tournaments might inadvertently marginalise female players.

In addition to these national and international federations, the meeting featured athletes who have competed in women’s categories at the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics, providing a first‑hand perspective on the implications of potential restructuring.

The Consensus Roadmap

During a two‑day workshop, the participants drafted a “Coventry Charter on Women’s Sports Protection.” The charter proposes:

1. Mandatory Funding – A minimum allocation of 15 % of each federation’s budget to women’s categories, subject to a transparent audit.
2. Independent Review Panels – Third‑party panels to evaluate proposals that would alter or merge women’s events, ensuring that athlete welfare is paramount.
3. Unified Advocacy Platform – A digital portal where federations can post updates, share best practices, and collectively respond to policy changes.
4. Annual Consensus Conference – A scheduled event every two years to review the status of women’s categories, led by the CSP in partnership with the UK government’s Sport England.

“We’re not just drafting a statement,” noted Mark Rutherford, Chair of the CSP. “We’re creating an operational framework that will be monitored and enforced. The goal is to make it impossible for a federation to remove a women’s category without a transparent, evidence‑based review.”

Wider Policy Context

The UK government’s 2023 “Sport for All” budget allocation of £2.1 billion included a dedicated £200 million for women’s sport development. Yet the policy documents, such as the “Sport Strategy 2025” released by Sport England, do not explicitly safeguard against category removal. The Coventry Charter aims to fill this regulatory gap.

Additionally, the European Commission’s 2024 “Gender Equality in Sports” directive stresses the importance of maintaining separate competitive structures for women, citing both the “competitive integrity” and “social inclusion” benefits. Several European federations have publicly committed to this directive, citing it as a reason to resist category mergers.

Potential Impact on Athletes and the Sporting Ecosystem

If women’s categories were removed or consolidated, the consequences could be profound:

• Reduced Competitive Opportunities – Fewer elite events would mean less visibility and fewer earning prospects for women athletes.
• Training and Development Disruption – Youth academies and community clubs could face funding cuts or program closures, stunting talent pipelines.
• Gender Inequality – A loss of separate categories may reinforce male‑centric narratives and diminish female representation at the highest levels.

Conversely, the charter’s enforcement could help solidify the financial and cultural foundation of women’s sports, encouraging investment, media coverage, and public interest.

Looking Ahead

The Coventry forum will publish the final charter by the end of September. Representatives from the World Athletics, FIFA, and the FA have pledged to review the charter within 60 days of its release. The UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has indicated that it will consider adopting the charter’s provisions as part of its 2026 sports policy review.

As the sporting world watches, Coventry’s initiative may set a precedent. “We are not just protecting a category; we are protecting a generation of athletes, fans, and communities,” Rutherford said. “This is about ensuring that women’s sports remain as dynamic and competitive as their male counterparts.”