Are we (finally) moving towards better visibility of women’s sport on TV?

When it comes to sports, some scores are less pleasant than others. Amélie Oudéa-Castéra proved it well on Monday 6 March, during a morning of debates on women’s sport at the Maison du handball in Créteil. The Minister of Sport returned to a suggestive fact: only 5% of all sports broadcasts on French television are dedicated to women’s sports.

A decree under discussion for several months

Earlier in the day, the minister spoke to our colleagues about Parisian on a decree on events of major significance. It is planned to protect these programs with free-to-air transmissions, guaranteeing free access to the largest number of viewers. Dating back to 2004, this decree has been under discussion for several months: “Strengthening the protection of French women’s football and rugby team matches and that of the women’s Tour de France”. This decree, which has yet to pass through the European authorities, is expected to enter into force in the autumn of 2023.

Measures for athletes who wish to have a child

During this workshop, which brought together various female figures from the sports world, the Minister also launched some ideas aimed at improving the situation of high-level sportswomen who choose to become mothers during their careers. This comes just weeks after sailor Clarisse Crémer denounced the injustice of the rules of the Vendée Globe, which ” prohibit women from having children “. Rejected by her sponsor Banque Populaire, the sportswoman could not qualify for the race.

“It’s easier when you’re number one in your sport”

Fencer Astrid Guyard, general secretary of the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF), currently pregnant, has rebelled against these proposals, pointing out the disparities in treatment that persist between athletes. “It’s easier when you’re number one in your sport”he recalled, but the situation is much more precarious for substitutes: “Too often for them the choice of motherhood is a risk” and often them “abandon” OR “reject”.

The Ministry of Sport therefore proposes to integrate the “parenting criteria” in the aid criteria of the National Sports Agency (ANS) or to extend the registration in the list of high-level athletes from one to two years for “leave time” Women’s. Amélie Oudéa-Castéra says she wants to strengthen herself their guarantees in the event of impacts on their performance and rankings”. He also said “unlocking a million euros” as part of a “call for projects” with the National Sports Agency (ANS) a “Eliminate gender bias” in 200 French schools. Let’s hope these measures go straight to the point.