Pay disparity in sports is a business decision

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I welcome the allegations of misogyny and sexism. The ICC’s decision to introduce equal prize money for men’s and women’s competitions is not a financially viable decision. Men’s and women’s performance, despite playing the same sport, does equal the same pay or prize money. Athletes are paid according to the revenue they earn, not because they are male or female.

If women’s sports could attract the same commercial revenue or more in comparison to the senior men’s division, then they should be paid accordingly. Take, for example, male models, do they get paid the same as female models in the fashion industry? This is because female models earn what they generate from both men and women. Just like women footballers being paid more than women volleyball players.

I am all for more returns in women’s sports. However, for female athletes to earn equal return in respective sport disciplines, both men and women, more women in fact, need to patronise women’s sports. Then they can get a bigger piece of the pie. As of now, for example, the WNBA is subsidised by the NBA. So it means that men’s sports are trying to help promote the popularity of women’s sports. Female athletes across all sports need to understand that their salary is not a gender thing. It’s not misogyny, it’s business.

KENDELL KARAN

Chaguanas

Trinidad and Tobago