LONDON – England’s Euro 2022 champions urged the two contenders competing to become the UK’s next prime minister on Wednesday to ensure that all girls have access to sports at school.
All 23 members of the squad, who defeated Germany 2-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, penned an open letter to Conservative Party leadership contenders Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, pleading for their assistance in “creating meaningful change in this country.”
“At the moment, only 63% of girls may play football in PE (physical education) classes.” “The reality is that we are inspiring young girls to play football, only for many of them to attend school and be unable to play,” they wrote.
“This is something that we all experienced growing up.”
The players demanded that the two candidates commit to ensuring that all girls have access to at least two hours of PE lessons per week where football is offered.
“We have made incredible strides in the women’s game, but this generation of schoolgirls deserves more,” they wrote.
“They deserve to play football at lunchtime, they deserve to play football in PE lessons and they deserve to believe they can one day play for England.
“We want to create real change in this country and we are asking you, if you were to become Prime Minister on 5 September, to help us achieve that change.”
Both contenders replied to the Lionesses’ plea, but neither made a definite promise to allowing schoolgirls to play football.
According to Truss’ campaign, the candidate “is dedicated to examining what hinders schools from delivering the mandated minimum of two hours PE per week.”
Sunak’s spokesman stated that he “wishes to see all schools providing two hours of PE every week.”
Source: AFP
