Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

More women on sports boards would reduce doping and match-fixing

More women on sports boards would reduce doping and match-fixing
August 29, 2015

More women on the boards of sporting organisations would likely to lead to less corruption, doping and match-fixing, according to La Trobe University Professor Catherine Ordway.

Speaking in Canberra on Wednesday (26th July) at a public seminar on women in sport, Professor Ordway - Professor of Practice (Sports Management) at La Trobe University - stressed that the reductions would not come about because woman were "more moral or nurturing", rather that more gender diversity on boards would  break up "group think".

Professor Ordway argued that the more diverse a board is in terms of the gender, culture and backgrounds of its members, so its mix of ideas and creativity will be broader, suggesting that it would be more likely that people of mixed gender, culture and backgrounds would ask "the tough questions".

However, Professor Ordway, who is completing a PhD at the University of Canberra on sports leadership and integrity, said there would be limited value in simply appointing women from the same backgrounds as the men – instead, boards should look for diversity.

Professor Ordway supports the Australian Sports Commission's much-publicised gender equity plan, which aims for 40% of directors' positions on sports boards to be filled by women, saying that said the target was likely to make a difference not only to the number of medals won by Australians but also to integrity - meaning less doping, match-fixing and corruption.

Professor Ordway told The Canberra Times "if you have 10 people sitting on board together for the last 20 years who went to the same school, played the same sport ... it leads to a very high risk of group think and people just going with the flow and not asking the tough questions."

Corporate boards also performed better with more female members, becoming more innovative and creative, with higher share prices and less risk of bankruptcy – and the likely reason was because of a broader outlook and different viewpoints on key appointments.

Professor Ordway said while Australia was a world leader on anti-doping measures and one of the few countries that had criminalised match-fixing, there were still risks.

She added "if you're in denial about it then that's when the issues can arise.

"The reason why Australia doesn't have a massive problem is that Australia has been on the front foot.

"We talk about it and we're not burying our heads in the sand saying it's never going to happen to us."

However, she sees Australia as being vulnerable to match-fixing because of the proximity of Asia and the perception of Australian sport as being clean, which made it "interesting to gamble on", leading to vulnerability to corruption.

As part of a policy where it names sports with fewer than 20% women on their boards, the Australian Sports Commission recently named archery (17%), boxing (14%) and the Australian paralympic committee (10%) as having fewer than 20% women on their boards as of January 2015.

The seminar, Women in Sport: Blowing the Whistle on Gender Equity, which was also addressed by ACT Senator Katy Gallagher, track cyclist Rebecca Wiasak and Capital Football Chief Executive Heather Reid, was held in Canberra on Wednesday 26th July.

Image of Catherine Ordway courtesy of the University of Canberra.

12th April 2015 - ABC HIGHLIGHTS DECLINE IN MEDIA COVERAGE OF WOMEN’S SPORT

28th October 2014 - WOMEN ARE ‘SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS’ IN SPORT GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

21st August 2013 - AWRA CALL FOR GOVERNMENT BACKING TO PROMOTE MORE FEMALE LEADERS IN SPORT

22nd April 2013 - AUSTRALIAN SPORTS COMMISSION ANNOUNCES ALMOST $120 MILLION INVESTMENT IN SPORT

11th September 2012 - CONFERENCE TO ENGAGE WOMEN IN SPORT MANAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION

21st August 2012 - BOARD DIVERSITY A KEY TO SPORT MANAGEMENT AND FUNDING 


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

DAE Global

DAE Global is one of the world’s leading international creative and production practitioners, creating award-winning sport, culture and entertainment experiences for over 30 years.  It was…

read more

Culture / Entertainment / Events / Venues

 
 

Parkequip

Parkequip is an approved supplier under the NSW LGP Contract 308 for a range of products including play equipment, shade, shelters, safe fall, park furniture and school outdoor seating. All materials…

read more

Fitness / Parks / Play / Recreation / Surfaces

 
 
 

Goplay Commercial Playground Equipment

Goplay designs and manufactures specialised playground equipment for indoor play centres, hotels, food chains, clubs and resorts. If our years of experience and dedication have taught us one thing,…

read more

Play

 
 

Enta Australasia

As of the 1st July 2018, Enta Australasia Pty Ltd/Best Union has been rebranded as VIVATICKET Pty Ltd.  Click here to view the VIVATICKET Pty Ltd listing.  19th July 2018 - ENTA…

read more

Technology / Ticketing / Venues

 
 

Otium Planning Group

Otium Planning Group is a contemporary sport and leisure consultancy providing services in planning, facility development, management and funding for the sport, recreation and leisure industries…

read more

Aquatics / Consultants / Recreation / Sport / Venues

 
 

Anti Wave Global

Anti Wave Global is the original suppliers of top performance swim, aquatic sports, leisure and pool programming equipment. Founded in 1971, Anti Wave Global is proud of its long and tested…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Sport

 
 

Exerp

Exerp is a global IT specialist in member management software for the fitness and leisure industry. By focusing on the needs of large enterprises, where streamlining, control and scalability are…

read more

Fitness / Technology / Wellness

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business