What a day Click a picture to enhance it. Blue text = a clickable link.I'm writing on Friday 21 July 2023 and it's a happy day. Yesterday, the first half at least, was unhappy. I turned on the news at lunch time to hear that, at 7.30, as the working day began, a shooter had walked into a high rise construction site in downtown Auckland, killed two people, injured others, then was killed himself in a shoot-out with police. All this as the eyes of the world turned to New Zealand for the opening day of the football Women's World Cup. What a mess. Players and visitors in Auckland, from all over the world, were very close to this bad event. What would happen? Urgently, condolances were given to families and those hurt. Just as urgently assurances were given by government and police to citizens and visitors. Miraculously, by 7 o’clock 42,000 people were in Eden Park observing two minutes silence in acknowledgement of the morning's event, before watching the opening match, New Zealand against Norway. And what an opening match it wasIf you have 4 minutes, please watch this highlights video. UN and FIFA join Click a picture to enhance it. Blue text = a clickable link.I didn't know until until two days ago that: 'UN Women and FIFA have come together just ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand to advance gender equality in football, and help end abuse and discrimination on and off the pitch.' Clear intentionsIn the United Nations News for July 22 I read: 'The tournament is expected to be watched by more than two billion people – the largest audience for a single women’s sport in history – offering an opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements in all sports and advocate for gender equality more generally. 'Women players continue to struggle with fewer professional opportunities, fewer brand sponsorships, less media coverage, unequal playing conditions and a large pay gap, compared to the men’s game. 'When women players do succeed, they regularly face abuse both online and in person, underscored the UN gender equality agency.' There is no doubting what the United Nations is on about is there? They want to use this huge sporting event: 'to celebrate women’s achievements in all sports and advocate for gender equality more generally.' No pussy footing around. The UN is out to make a point. StridentThe UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous. from Jordan, becomes quite strident as she talks up all the World Cup participants as role models and hopes for more women and girls to have the same opportunities as men. “The women competing in this World Cup are role models for every girl on this planet,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous.
TopYes, I know the picture of Dunedin stadium is showing a rugby game but that's FIFA’s fault. The picture comes from their website. I wanted to show the Dunedin stadium because I originally come from that city. I also like the look of the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium so I just decided to show it. My post today underlines the need to strive for equal opportunity for women, using football as a means. So I'm glad to see that in this event women will occupy top venues often occupied by men. As the tournament proceeds, the UN and FIFA together are pushing two themes: Gender Equality and Unite for Ending Violence. This they'll do using slogans on captains’ armbands, pitch-side digital advertising and social media. Expect to see all that on the third day and during the semifinals. I hope we all enjoy this tournament. And I hope it’s very happening does enhance the place of women in our world. In some places women have a long way to go. □ John McInnes Friday 20 July 2023 ##########
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