Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) are to host a free photo exhibition aimed at inspiring recognition and gender equity in Australian sport.
An initiative of the national advocacy body, Women Sport Australia, the Women in Sport Photo Action Awards Exhibition (#WISPAA Exhibition) includes 30 stunning action images of female athletes.
Minister for Youth and Sport, Senator Richard Colbeck and Sport Australia Chief Executive, Kate Palmer said they were pleased to bring the exhibition to the AIS in Canberra.
“I congratulate Women Sport Australia for bringing together this fantastic exhibition,” Senator Colbeck said.
“It is a valuable symbol of our commitment to greater female participation in Australian sport and we are proud to back the boom in Aussie women’s sport,” he said.
Senator Colbeck said Sport Australia was dedicated to creating opportunities for female participation at all levels of sport – from grassroots sport through to elite female athletes on the world stage.
Ms Palmer said more than 130,000 people take public tours of the AIS each year, making the Institute an important cultural site to showcase the exhibition and demonstrate the power of sport to inspire Australians.
“For many years Sport Australia has been advocating for the increased recognition of girls and women in sport,” Ms Palmer said.
“The beauty of this exhibition is it shows there are remarkable feats of strength, courage and athleticism being performed by women in many sporting arenas every single day,” she said.
Director of Women Sport Australia, Louise Evans created the exhibition to help change media and public perceptions and the portrayal of women in sport.
“There has been a fantastic reaction to this exhibition all around the country, with people able to marvel at the power, courage, control and skill captured in these inspirational images,” Ms Evans said.
“The women in these photos are great role models to their families, their teams and their communities.”
The exhibition is to be held in the Marathon Room at the AIS Visitor Centre from tomorrow (27 November) until 8 December. The exhibition is free to the public and the AIS Visitor Centre is open 8.30am to 5pm weekdays and 9.30am to 4pm weekends.