The ‘Names Will Be Made’ campaign spotlights female athletes and gives them a platform on the BBC
The BBC is giving women’s sport the spotlight this summer, with a lineup of major sporting events live on the BBC across TV, BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app, as well as on BBC radio and BBC Sounds.
To mark the start of this sporting summer, the broadcaster is launching ‘Names Will Be Made’, a campaign that spotlights female athletes and gives them a platform.
The summer campaign brings together all BBC Sport’s live coverage and reporting and signposts content across the BBC.
It has launched a new webpage to showcase women’s sport content from across the BBC, which is available here. The website highlights stories of sportswomen, content and participation opportunities from partners involved in the major events, and the best content from non-sport BBC programmes which are reflecting women’s sport this summer.
Gabby Logan, BBC Sport broadcaster says: “The BBC has had a massive impact in growing women’s sport and this summer we’re pushing the agenda a bit further. We’ve got the Women’s Euros, the Women’s Rugby World Cup and the World Athletics Championships.
“We’ve always realised the value in women’s sport. Not just because it’s important to see women doing sport, it’s important for society to believe that women can pretty much do anything they want to do.”
Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, adds: “The BBC has a strong legacy in championing women’s sport, telling their stories to audiences, from grassroots right up to those at the top of their game. As the most used sports broadcaster in the UK, I am proud to use our platforms to celebrate this huge moment for women’s sport.
“No sidelines. No second billing. This summer is packed with top-tier women’s competitions including the Women’s Euros, Women’s Rugby World Cup, the first women’s tournament at Queen’s in over 50 years and much, much more. The BBC is the only place that has it all covered across TV & iPlayer, radio & Sounds, online and social media.”
As well as showcasing women’s sport on the broadcaster, the BBC will also be working in partnership with a number of organisations across the summer to highlight opportunities around grassroots participation. It will be using local sports clubs, gyms, pools, and leisure centres to get more women and girls active, alongside partnership organisations that currently include The FA, Football Association of Wales (FAW), The LTA, Women in Sport, Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, England Netball, Sport England and ukactive.
Women’s sport on the BBC this summer
- BBC Sport will continue streaming the new look Netball Super League throughout June as London Pulse, Loughborough Lightening and Manchester Thunder compete to be top of the table and Nottingham Forest try to secure a top 4 finish in their debut year. Digital highlights of the semi final and Grand Final will also be available for audiences to follow the action.
- Tennis then kick starts BBC Sport’s summer schedule from Monday 9 June. For the first time in over 50 years women are competing at the historic Queen’s Club with current British number one Katie Boulter and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu competing in the women’s event. The grass court season continues throughout June and July with Nottingham, Eastbourne and Wimbledon, all live across the BBC.
- All eyes will be on England and Wales at the Women’s Euros as the Lionesses set out to retain their title as European champions in Switzerland from the 2 July, and Wales take part in their first ever major tournament.
- In August, The Hundred cricket competition returns to the BBC. There is live TV coverage of eight double headers, featuring both women’s and men’s matches, including the opening matches and finals plus audio commentary on every game and digital highlights. Before then though, England women’s cricket team begin a new era under coach Charlotte Edwards and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt with series against West Indies and India starting on the 21 May ahead of the World Cup in September. There’s live commentary on Test Match Special plus digital highlights.
- Later in August the world of rugby will descend on England for the Women’s Rugby World Cup. All four home nations are competing and, off the back of clinching the Women’s Six Nations, the Red Roses will be the favourites to secure the trophy in front of home fans. Every single second will be live exclusively across the BBC from the 22 August.
- Rounding off the summer is the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, which will showcase the best men and women in the world across track and field from Saturday 13 September.
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