Euro2020FootballScotland

Blog 56: Women on the stands

Tuesday's defeat to Croatia and the subsequent end of Scotland's Euro 2020 journey has shaken the hopeful nation this week. To commemorate the historic return to the world's football stage, we are celebrating the fans whose unwavering support got the team this far. Unsurprisingly, football is the most popular sport in Scotland, so much so, that it is considered to be part of our culture itself. What you may not know is that, even though the key football demographic is diversifying, women still only take up 8% of the Scottish football audience, according to a 2017 SFSA (Scottish Football Supporters Association ) report.…
abi.k.johnston@googlemail.com
June 26, 2021
By Hannah Scott

Blog 55: How are you keeping fit this summer?

This summer it might be part of your plan to work on your fitness but the gyms are too crowded, and let’s not beat around the bush here but memberships can get pricey especially if you’re only doing it for show and don’t really plan to ever use it... Do not fear, for I have the answer! The couch to 5K app is available for free on all devices. A running tool really, it is a ‘nine-week’ programme that might take you that amount of time to complete, but could take much longer. For myself I completed it whilst writing…
scottishwomeninsport
June 19, 2021
Swimming

Blog 54: ‘Swimming has been a lifeline for me’

Taking swimming lessons is beneficial for children, even if they don't turn out to be record-breaking athletes later on. Many of the best swimmers start out at the kids' pool at a very young age. They are the lucky few that found what they wanted to do with their lives when it has barely started. Cerys McCrindle's story started in a very similar way. She was only 3 months old when her toes were first dipped in the water as her parents took her swimming. Her mom, Karen smiled at her daughter's innocent giggles as she started moving her limbs in unison.…
abi.k.johnston@googlemail.com
June 12, 2021
Swimming

Blog 50: Active and inspired by sport – Deaf Awareness Week #DAW2021

It's Deaf Awareness Week 2021 (3-9 May), and the SW/S Blog is joining the efforts to raise awareness and promote equality. Did you know that in the UK, 1 in 6 adults face deafness or hearing loss? Yet despite being the second most common disability, the invisible nature of deafness makes it easy for the community to be overlooked or forgotten. Deaf sports, however, have a longstanding history. The first Deaflympics was organised in 1924 (36 years before the first official Paralympic Games) and is considered the second-oldest multi-sport event in history. 'The Deaflympic Games have been around for a long time and the history…
abi.k.johnston@googlemail.com
May 8, 2021
GymsNewsUpdates

Blog: 48 ‘No men and no mirrors’ – Women’s experiences in the gym

As COVID-19 spread last year and gyms had to close for safety, women were forced to start exercising outdoors, or not at all. During the darkening winter months, women reported being afraid to exercise outdoors with fears of being harassed or attacked by men.  Now, according to Scotland's latest roadmap out of lockdown, gyms are due to reopen on Monday, 26 April. But before we sit back comfortably in the knowledge that women are protected and happy in gyms, let's ask them! In England, women have rejoiced as they returned to gyms on 12 April (alongside other genders of course) and most of them have…
abi.k.johnston@googlemail.com
April 24, 2021