High-quality women's soccer has a large following
I refer to the letter by Stewart McGlynn headlined, 'Mediocre matches' (South China Morning Post, September 21).
As a women's soccer player I was offended to read such prejudiced views against the sport. The players in the Olympics have trained for years to get where they are now. Some people, men especially, say that because women are not necessarily as fast as men they can't play an exciting game and thus it is not worth watching.
The number of fans of women's soccer in countries such as the US is a testament to the popularity of the game.
Players like Mia Hamm, a top player in the US, have become heroes to the younger players in the sport. Hamm was ranked second to Michael Jordan in a survey of US teenagers asking 'Who is your favourite athlete?' In many countries it is not a novelty to see the sport being played by women, in fact there are numerous junior women soccer teams in the US. Women's soccer is a sport of growing interest in many countries.
The number of younger players taking up the sport is on the rise and the number of players continuing to the upper levels is increasing.
To play this sport at the upper levels requires extreme talent and until you play the sport you will never know the level of dedication required.
The reason that lower level football is not aired worldwide is the same reason that almost every other sport is not aired at that level.
The athletes are not yet well known at that level and there are so many teams that it would not be practical to air lower-level games.
After all, it is more exciting to watch the best of a sport.
Women's soccer is a sport of dedication, strength, skill, and talent and therefore deserves to be aired on television on the same level as men's soccer.
KEREN MITCHELL
Stanley
Stewart McGlynn asks what the point of women's football is. He might as well ask, 'Why do women play tennis?'
His comments smack of recent derogatory remarks by John McEnroe about the Williams sisters. The point is, men and women have an equal right to pursue any profession they choose and aim to fulfil their potential.
Watching the American women's soccer team, I can only marvel at their skill, athleticism and team spirit, especially considering the lack of a soccer culture in the US.
Mr McGlynn adds, 'Real soccer fans would rather watch repeats of the English Third Division.'
Unless they're crazy for the blinding skills on display at, say, Halifax Town, I somehow doubt whether that would pull in an Olympic-size audience.
Of course, nothing polarises people as much as sport, religion and politics. While it is true that many women hate football, millions of them are so passionate about it, they want to get out and play.
As the sport increases in popularity, standards rise and a lot of men start to take an interest too.
Women's soccer is not a novelty. It is here to stay.
However, I do admit to being in two minds about women's boxing.
Leila Ali may well want to emulate her famous father and become 'The Greatest', but somehow I just wish she would hang up her gloves and do something else.
HUGH TERRY
Wan Chai
