Female Participation in Sport and Physical Activity

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament am ar 28 Tachwedd 2023.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Willie Rennie Willie Rennie Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol

I like running in the mud when it is wet and cold in the middle of winter. I love going up and down hills for hours on end—but I am weird. Most people do not enjoy that. It is not for everyone, particularly women and girls, and neither should it be. Everybody should be encouraged to do their own sport in their own way. However, we also need to ensure that it is attractive and enticing, and that there is a wide and varied offer for people.

Sport and exercise improve my mental health, my memory and my sleep. I think that I come up with my best ideas when I am at the top of hills—I know that there are many of them. I enjoy sport and exercise, and I want everyone to enjoy them in their own way.

It is worth recognising the improvements that have been made in sport for women and girls. In particular, I pay tribute to the minister. I know from the sporting community that it appreciates her contribution to sport. It knows that she is passionate about sport, and it recognises that she is a woman who is passionate about sport and who ties her work to health. That is critically important. We have heard from her today how much she cares about it.

Sport and exercise are a microcosm of wider society, and the problems that we experience elsewhere in the attitudes, stigma and harassment that women experience are also reflected in sport. That is no excuse for sport in any way whatsoever, but it indicates that we have a much wider problem in society that we need to tackle.