Australian Commonwealth Games team discriminates against women coaches and managers

Australia is "letting down the side" by failing to select any female coaches or managers in the high profile Commonwealth Games sports of swimming and hockey. 
 
Coinciding with the opening of the 2015 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Australian Womensport and Recreation Association (AWRA) has highlighted that women are drastically underrepresented across the entire Australian team.

AWRA President Dee Anderson said the gender split in the Australian Commonwealth Games coaching team was very disappointing with only nine females out of a coaching staff of 84. 
 
Anderson highlighted that there are no female swimming or hockey coaches, only one female athletics coach of 13 and one female in the cycling coaching team of nine. 
 
She also said Australian team management selection was also poor, with just three women among 14 section managers, stating "while the number of Australian female athletes is almost on a par with their male counterparts - 208 males vs 204 females, it is very disappointing how few female managers and coaches are in the team.

"It seems that the off field involvement of women in Commonwealth Games sports hasn't kept up with the inclusion of female athletes.” 
 
"We have a few bright spots in squash with five time world champion Sarah FitzGerald being one of two coaches. In judo, former World Cup athlete Kylie Koenig is one of three coaches. 
 
"As you would expect traditional female sports including netball and gymnastics are well represented in the coaching ranks. But there are only three women out of 14 section managers women in badminton, judo and netball.”

"Sports where Australia is expected to do well are letting down the side in coach selection." 

Anderson also emphasised that given issues involving Australian swimming since the 2012 London Olympic Games, that it would have made sense to have female leaders and role models on the pool deck.

Anderson said Australian sports need to lift their game and have gender equity in place in the coaching and management ranks in time for the next Commonwealth Games, which will be held on home soil at the Gold Coast in 2018.