Expo hopes to bridge the fitness gender divide
Date published: 27 January 2016
An expo to encourage women and girls to get active and participate in physical recreation will be held at Townsville RSL Stadium this weekend.
The Get Active Expo, a Townsville City Council initiative to bridge the gap between male and female participation in physical activities, will feature more than 100 exhibitions, demonstrations and activity zones on Sunday, January 31.
Sport, Recreation and Parks Committee chair Cr Pat Ernst said the expo would give sport, recreation and health providers in Townsville an opportunity to promote their services directly to a female audience.
“According to Bureau of Statistics figures the rate of participation in sport and active recreation is 4.8% lower for Queensland women (aged 15 years and over) compared with Queensland men; 59.5% and 64.3%, respectively,” Cr Ernst said.
“The difference in participation rates is even more pronounced between girls and boys 14 years and younger: 49.4% for girls and 63.2% for boys.
“Council hopes that this expo will present a wide range of fitness opportunities directly to a female audience and encourage them to sign up or try something totally new.”
Visitors will also be able to talk to local sportswomen who have gone on to achieve success in their chosen field including Shelby Green (BMX), Brianna Coop (Athletics), Mia Murray (JCU Townsville Fire) and Caro Tahana (ironman and triathlons and The Block contestant).
The expo will run from 10am-2pm. Entry is free.
The first 100 participants will receive a Get Active prize pack.
The expo is part of the State Government’s Get Out, Get Active program.
