Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Wimbledon and Equal Pay

In addtion to death and Taxes, rain during the Wimbledon fornight has got to be the third certainty of life. As soon as I looked out my window on waking up yesterday morning and saw the rain, I knew Wimbledon had started. Only 44 minutes of play took place yesterday on the first day of the tournament.

Fortunately the World Cup has stolen a lot of the attention away from the tennis tournament and thus British hopes aren't being built up again unrealistically - well at least not in the tennis. Henman wasn't seeded and if he gets past the Swedish Soederling in his first match today he will probably face the reigning champion and world number one Roger Federer later in the week. So Englands best hopes probably lie with Andy Murray who should he get to the third round will probably have to meet the talented Andy Roddick, its just as well the football is on.

Meanwhile Venus has gone and restoked the controversy over Equal Pay for women at Wimbledon. The Womens winners gets prize money of £625,000 with the mens winner taking home £655,000. Venus reckons that its a human rights issue as since the difference in prize money is less than 5% the tournament organisers use it to make a social and political point rather than it being recompense for the effort put in. I say since the women only play best of 3 sets compared to best of 5 sets like the men then the prize money needs to reflect this. Chikena.

8 comments:

culturalmiscellany said...

I know it has started for other reasons; people are camping near my home and I am awoken by the sound of police horses as they trot down my street towards the stadium. Every year I claim I will rent my flat and make a fortune but I never do.

Nneka's World said...

You know what i totally forgot about wimbledon, until last night on the news and i was like what its on?! Yeah its the world cup fever.

Aramide said...

So you think you're naija to the core huh! Which kush are you?

Kush said...

Mona no be competition o! I be Kush of the Nubian Civilization. We taught the world to read baby!

EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima said...

I agree with Tony Blair that the female players should earn the same pay with the male players at Wimbledon. And wherever they are engaged in the same work.

After Nduka Odizor, no other Nigerian tennis player has done us proud in tennis.

God bless.

Aramide said...

oh no i just asked cos i know a kush hehehe yea i know that "order of kush" shizniz hehe...nice blog

Olawunmi said...

coincidentially, i just blogged about this topic, and i disagree; women should earn the same as the men 5 sets or not.

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