Sports bodies attack tabloid press’ sexist Commonwealth Games reports

Australian Commonwealth Games Association President Sam Coffa has attacked a number of tabloid reports from the recent Glasgow Commonwealth Games, criticising them for being sexist and undermining the victory of Australian female athletes.

Coffa stated "I am appalled about this type of reporting in regard to our Australian team and would like to see the athletic achievements and high standards of our female athletes properly reported."

The tabloid media reports were highlighted by the ABC TV's Media Watch program which did a segment titled ‘Sex trumps sport again’.

Media Watch exposed how a gold medal victory by Australian Laetisha Scanlan (pictured above, centre) in the woman's trap shooting event was reported with headlines including ‘Now Laetisha sets sights on love’ - Herald Sun and ‘Golden girl Scanlan looking for a shotgun wedding’ - Courier Mail). The Courier Mail also reported Scanlan "now needs to find a man".

The Australian Womensport and Recreation Association (AWRA) has highlighted that the sexism also included the London Daily Mail’s online site reporting that the Australia's golden girls were voted "the hottest at the Commonwealth Games".

AWRA President Deidre Anderson said this sexist style and low tone of reporting distracts from the real story about the remarkable sporting achievements of Laetisha Scanlan, who also won gold at the Delhi Commonwealth Games four years ago.

Anderson stated "it's just not good enough in this day and age to continue to undermine the achievements of our female athletes with this type of unprofessional and disrespectful journalism.

"They have trained endlessly and sacrificed so much and deserve better.

"This type of reporting undermines women's sport to the point where their athletic achievements are diminished and even lost." 

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