University News
National Girls and Women in Sports Day Celebrated at WIU Feb. 2
January 25, 2013
MACOMB -- Western Illinois University will commemorate the 27th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) Wednesday, Feb. 6 and will hold celebration activities on Saturday, Feb. 2. The theme for NGWSD 2013 is "Girls in Sports, An Investment in the Future."
NGWSD was established in 1986 to celebrate the achievements of girls and women in sports and to honor Flo Hyman, a member of the 1984 Olympic silver medal volleyball team, who died suddenly while competing in Japan in 1986. Held annually on the first Wednesday in February, the day also serves to recognize the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.
WIU President Jack Thomas and Macomb Mayor Mike Inman have signed a proclamation declaring Wednesday, Feb. 6 as National Girls and Women in Sports Day at Western and in Macomb and calling upon the members of our community to recognize the important role athletics play in the development of young women throughout the country. The proclamation also encourages participation in NGWSD activities planned on campus Saturday, Feb. 2, prior to and during the WIU Women's basketball game, and on Wednesday, Feb. 6, when information and resources will be available in the Union Concourse from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and in the Student Recreation Center Concourse.
Girls ages 8-18, including local Girl Scouts, are invited to attend the NGWSD activities on Saturday, Feb. 2 to learn about a variety of sports from the college student-athletes who play them. Volunteers from Campus Recreation, the Women's Center, Campus Girl Scouts and the kinesiology and recreation, park and tourism administration student organization will provide resources and information about the importance of fitness, exercise and sports. Participants will head to Western Hall for a resource table fair and more activities and to watch the exciting WIU women's basketball team in action against IUPUI. All participants and WIU women's teams will go out on the court to be recognized at halftime of the game.
The cost is $10 for each participant. Participants will receive a t-shirt, goodie bag and free admission to the game. General admission tickets to the game may be purchased in Western Hall by parents or others who would like to attend the game but who will not be attending activities earlier in the day.
Registration is required, and forms must be received by Jan. 30. Girls whose registrations were received by Jan. 18 will get a t-shirt at the event, and those whose forms are received after Jan. 18 will get a shirt at a later date. A waiver signed by a parent/guardian of each girl participating must accompany the registration form. Registration forms and waivers are available on the WIU Women's Center webpage at wiu.edu/wc.
Western's NGWSD celebration is sponsored by the Women's Center, Campus Girl Scouts, Campus Recreation, Intercollegiate Athletics, Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and the kinesiology and recreation, park and tourism administration departments, in collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois.
NGWSD is jointly organized by the National Girls and Women in Sport Coalition. The Coalition combines the experience and resources of five premiere girls- and women-serving organizations in the United States: Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Incorporated, the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, National Women's Law Center and the Women's Sports Foundation.
For more information, contact the Women's Center at 309/298-2242 or visit wiu.edu/wc.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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