19th December 2018

WOMEN IN WORLD ATHLETICS (WIWA) INITIATIVE ENCOURAGES NEW FEMALE COMMENTARY TALENT

Women in World Athletics (WIWA), an initiative launched by UK Athletics in 2013, has launched a competition to search for the newest female voice to join the official live stream commentary team at the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships next February (9-10).

This opportunity links to the annual ‘Women in World Athletics’ (WIWA) conference which has grown as a project over the last six years with the ambition of bringing women from across the world of athletics, together. This opportunity is an off-shoot project from the wider initiative, to increase the involvement of women in the sport at all levels and in all functions and roles.

WIWA is inviting women who are looking to develop a career in sports media to send in their commentary over the top of one key moment from the 2018 SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships series. A choice of seven options can be found and downloaded via this link.

Entrants have until 22:00 on 18/01/2018 to submit commentary pieces via this Dropbox folder, with a shortlist then being decided by an expert judging panel of WIWA Founder Cherry Alexander, former British international marathoner turned British Athletics regular in-stadium lead commentator Geoff Wightman and former British 100m star and 2008 Olympic finalist Jeanette Kwakye, before a winner is announced at the beginning of February.

Alongside the experienced commentary team and guests from the athletics world, the winner will get the opportunity of a lifetime to get behind the mic and commentate on the exciting British performances as athletes battle for the British title, and places at the European Indoor Championships in Glasgow a few weeks later.

Later in the summer, they will also be invited to a special sports media session as part of the 7th WIWA conference. If you think you have what it takes to be the voice of the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships, submit your entry prior to the deadline.

Major Events Director at British Athletics and founder of the WIWA project, Cherry Alexander said:

“This is an incredible opportunity and I am delighted WIWA and British Athletics will be supporting this project alongside Women in Sport. Never before has the idea of gender equity and equality been so high up the agenda in every walk of life, but we still need more female voices to be reflected in the coverage of our sport.

“I look forward to listening to all the talented entries and finding our leading female voice for the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships next year. “

Now an established Sports Broadcaster herself following retirement from the sport of athletics in 2012, Jeanette Kwakye added her thoughts on the initiative:

“This is a great competition – which will provide an opportunity for someone to really show off their skills.

“I am excited to judge the entries and will be looking for great knowledge, passion and energy coming through the microphone. Athletics is a sport that people love to feel part of, and having a great commentator helps.

“More female voices are definitely what we need in this space and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”

To learn more about this opportunity and begin the process of entering, please click here to gain access to a host of clips from the 2018 SPAR British Indoor Championships. Entries are to be uploaded to the Dropbox folder here.

Further questions related to the competition can be submitted to wiwa@britishathletics.org