Inspiring girls to stay active in sport

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This article was published 25/02/2019 (1492 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There should be plenty going on to inspire young female athletes at Bell MTS Centre on March 9.

That’s the date of the FITGirls Sport Day event, which is being held in partnership between the Manitoba Moose and Winnipeg-based Fit Communications.

According to Andrea Katz, the co-founder of Fit Communications, girls in the city are up to six times more likely to drop out of sport by the age of 15 than boys, and that the two partner organizations are “committed to be being part of a positive change.”

“One of the goals of the event is to expose young girls to new or different sports,” said Katz, who lives in Norwood Grove,” noting the event will include representation from seven different sporting organizations that will be set up in the concourse of Bell MTS Centre to promote specific programming for girls in Winnipeg.

“We’re having these seven organizations showcase what they’re up to, and show parents what sort of options there are out there, and maybe help them think a little bit outside the box.”

The showcasing organizations include the Yoga Barre, the Manitoba Rowing Association, FIT Women & Girls, Attack Basketball, the University of Winnipeg summer sport camps, Little Kickers, and Softball Manitoba.

Katz said the event will begin with a family-focused, half-hour yoga class, which will be followed by an inspirational talk by Olivia (The Predator) Gerula, who will be “discussing her life as a professional female athlete in a male-dominated sport, and showcasing that girls can truly be anything they can dream of.”

Gerula — who lives in West Kildonan, and grew up and works in North Kildonan — is a world ranked professional boxer, former WBC and WIBA world champion, and current UBF champion.

While the family-friendly event is naturally aimed at girls —“we want to showcase our dedication to girls” — she emphasized that boys are welcome, as it’s going to be a “very inclusive” event.

“For me personally, I think it will be great for both younger boys and girls to hear from Olivia,” Katz said. “I really hope it will be a fun day, and we’re expecting big crowds for both the yoga, and Olivia.”

After that, the fun is set to continue further, as attendees will have the chance to watch the Manitoba Moose take on the Rockford Icehogs.

 
Tickets are $20, if purchased in advance online using the promo code FIT. Go online at fitcommunications.ca/fit-girls-event-info for more information, or to buy tickets.