Wednesday 28 September 2016 12:10, UK
The UK’s second Women’s Sport Week will kick-off on October 3 following the huge success of the inaugural collaboration last year.
The Women in Sport charity, Sport England, national governing bodies, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and major broadcasters including Sky Sports announced the date for Women's Sport Week - which starts two weeks after the Rio Paralympics - on Tuesday.
The week will celebrate and showcase women's sport at every level, from grassroots right through to the elite, and will highlight the incredible contribution that women make to sport.
The collective force behind Women's Sport Week calls on everyone within the sports community and beyond to use this occasion to organise events, generate debate, and show their support to help women and girls reach their full potential through sport.
Ruth Holdaway, Women In Sport's chief executive, said: "Women's Sport Week proved a hugely successful campaign last year and we now have a fantastic opportunity to build further public interest and celebrate the important contributions that women make in sport.
"With our partners, we can reach out to the whole community - women and men, girls and boys, those who are already passionate supporters of women's sport and those who have yet to discover how brilliant it can be.
"We hope many more people will learn about opportunities for women in sport, champion our work and join in."
Andy Cairns, Sky Sports News' executive editor, has pledged to help make this year's Women's Sport Week bigger and better than last year.
"Women's Sport Week is an important event in the sporting calendar and there will be plenty for viewers to look forward to on Sky Sports News," he said.
"Last year we led the way with stories every hour through the week, and will be doing even more this year: on Sportswomen and across our digital outlets we'll have interviews with leading names, in-depth features, inspiring stories, polls, and analysis of the news and stories that shape the world of women's sport.
"From grassroots to elite level there will be something for everyone to enjoy."
Women's Sport Week will raise awareness of opportunities for women of all abilities and backgrounds to engage in sport by taking part, volunteering and experiencing live sport, and to play an active role in sport leadership and workforce, from coaching to boardrooms, across the country.
Annamarie Phelps, chair of British Rowing, said: "Women's Sport Week will be an inclusive celebration of the impact women have at all levels in sport, from the Olympic and Paralympic podium to the local sports club.
"It is a great opportunity to celebrate women already involved in sport and to welcome new people into our communities."
Minister for Sport, David Evennett, added: "We've already seen over 260,000 more women playing sport regularly this year and Women's Sport Week will help encourage more women to get out there and be active."
Women in Sport will highlight the importance of commercial investment in women's sport through the publication of its annual sponsorship audit, and will be launching a fundraising campaign to help transform sport for the benefit of every woman and girl in the UK.
Sport England will also use the week to continue to drive home the benefits of the hugely successful This Girl Can campaign.
"This Girl Can's success proves that a behavioural change campaign can have a meaningful impact if it's prepared to tackle issues head on," said Tanya Joseph, Sport England's director of business partnerships.
"Women's Sport Week offers a great opportunity for the sport sector to challenge itself to question what it is doing to make sport, both elite and grassroots, as accessible and welcoming as possible.
"While thankfully attitudes to women in sport are changing for the better, now is not the time for complacency, we must continue to strive for change."
