Women running for women's sports
On Sunday, 25,000 elite and amateur runners, as well as walkers, from across Ireland took part in the Women's Mini Marathon in Dublin. The 10k race is the biggest single-day charity event in the country and the largest women's event of its kind in the world: other European cities like Oslo, London and Glasgow have taken inspiration from it to start their own. It has raised an estimated €230 million since its creation in 1983.
The race was founded only 18 months after the first-ever women's 10,000 metres world record was recognised, the goal being to promote female participation in sports. Forty years down the line, its exclusivity stays relevant: 45% of men in the EU practice sports once a week versus 37% of women. Men are also twice more likely to be part of a sports club (16% vs 8%).