12 Unit 01 | Ready to rumble In a league of your own Discuss the following questions in small groups. 1 Is doing sports more of a leisure activity for women or men? Why do you think that is? 2 How might doing sports be different for women or men? What about doing it professionally? Read the article about women and professional sports. Some sentences are missing. Choose the correct sentence from the list (A–K) for each gap (1–8). There are two extra sentences that you should not use. Write your answers in the boxes provided. The first one (0) has been done for you. SPEAKING 11 READING 12 Levelling the playing field Women’s sports are on a winning streak, reaching new heights and shattering records. From the Olympics achieving gender parity to the rapidly growing fan base for women’s competitions, there’s a lot to celebrate – and even more to look forward to. (0) . For the first time, female athletes secured as many places in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as male athletes. (1) . Back then, women represented just over two percent of the competitors. (2) . Seven out of ten people now tune in to women’s sports, with almost a quarter saying they watch women’s events at least a few times a year. This isn’t far behind the percentage of spectators who watch men’s sports with the same frequency (81 percent). Although media coverage of female athletes has nearly tripled in the last three years, they still receive far less screen time – just 16 percent of the total – compared to their male counterparts. Increasing the visibility of female athletes is essential to providing more role models in sports who can inspire girls to continue playing. A recent survey by Parity Now found that 88 percent of sports fans regard pro women athletes as impactful role models for young women. (3) : Fans are three times more likely to purchase a product recommended by a woman athlete than by other types of influencers. Girls who play sports tend to stay in school, delay pregnancy and get better jobs. (4) . These benefits extend into their everyday lives, empowering them to take the initiative and attempt things they never imagined were possible. Findings of a recent survey show that 80 percent of female Fortune 500 CEOs played sports in their formative years, emphasising the impact of early exposure to sport on the development of young women. Despite these positive data, girls drop out of sports by age 14 at twice the rate of boys due to social expectations, lack of investment in quality programmes and other factors. It is therefore all the more important that women are now stepping into leadership roles in the sports world, pushing for better policies and increased investment. This has led to record levels of attention for women’s sporting events and increased focus on critical issues, from narrowing the pay gap to addressing violence and abuse. However, despite these advancements, barriers and gender bias persist. (5) . And of the 31 organisations surveyed, just three had women at the helm. (6) . A global sports salary survey by Sporting Intelligence showed that, among elite athletes, women earn, on average, just one percent of what men make. No women appeared on Forbes’ 2024 list of the 100 highest-paid athletes in the world, and prize money for women’s sport continues to lag behind men’s. (7) . Tennis led the way as the first sport to guarantee equal prizes at major tournaments. The Professional Squash Association, World Surf League and a handful of other organisations have also equalised men’s and women’s payouts. The recent progress and achievements in women’s sports are nothing short of extraordinary. But the journey doesn’t stop here. (8) . Together, we can create a world where every girl knows the sky’s the limit – both on and off the field. Strategies box Multiple matching: Sentences Some matching tasks require you to put complete sentences back into a text. Read the sentences before and after the gap carefully. Consider not only the topic, but also pronouns, connectors and the overall flow of ideas. Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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