Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express Express - Breaking news, sport and showbiz from the World's Greatest Newspaper
Newspaper Cover Page
Our Paper

Front and Back Pages, E-Edition and Back Issues...

Weather
 11°C
London
Monday 8th October 2012
Daily Express Twitter Feed Daily Express Facebook Page Express RSS Feeds

NETBALL

GORDON BROWN BACKS OLYMPIC NETBALL

Gordon Brown backs netball for 2012


Gordon Brown backs netball for 2012

Wednesday February 20,2008

By Emily Garnham for express.co.uk

THE Prime Minister has called for netball to be included at the 2012 London Olympics.

Gordon Brown believes netball is the key to luring more women and girls into sport.

Netball is played in schools nationwide but the sport is not yet professional in England, despite its thriving Superleague competition and national squad - ranked third in the world.

A spokeswoman for England Netball told express.co.uk:  “We would be delighted to be included in the Olympics – not least as an opportunity for home nations to achieve a medal.

“It is one of the great team sports played all over the world so sits highly with the Olympic ideals of equality and participation – giving women the chance to shine in the sporting arena.

England's national squad is ranked third in the world
England's national squad is ranked third in the world


She added: “We have no problem with men playing netball either – in fact England has an excellent men’s national squad - but men have a monopoly on all sorts of other sports.”

It is understood that netball would feature as a "wildcard" demonstration sport.

These additions to the Olympic Games are commonly showcased by the host country to display the nation’s most popular sports.

Demonstration sports were officially introduced in 1912 Summer Olympics, when Sweden decided to include glima, traditional Scandinavian wrestling, in the program.

Since 1912 the Olympics have displayed bowls, lifesaving, water skiing and Aussie rules football.

In the 1948 London Olympics, men’s lacrosse was played.

SEARCH NETBALL for:


China will showcase Wushu martial art in Beijing this year but any medals won in demonstration sports medals do not count as "official".



BACK TO NETBALL



Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Prime Minister Gordon Brown

***MORE BREAKING NETBALL NEWS***


User Image

GORDON BROWN BACKS OLYMPIC NETBALL

25.02.08, 4:57pm

at last - netball should be part of the Olympics!!

• Posted by: DaisyLaReport Comment

View All Comments

To view all 'Have Your Say' comments, click this button...

Share...

Got A Story? Get in touch online
Email the news desk directly here!