'Bid To Get Netball In The 2012 Olympics', created by England defender Eboni Beckford-Chambers, has almost 18,000 members.

The group was set up on the social networking site in a bid to "put women's sport on the global map.”

And comments posted by men and women nationwide suggest that netball – already a core sport at the Commonwealth Games – is long overdue an Olympic spot.

*** MORE BREAKING NETBALL NEWS! ***

Geva Mentor signs autographs

Stephanie David from Leeds, said: “Why isn’t netball recognised more? You don’t get to hear about international games anywhere apart from the internet - yet football is forced upon us everyday.

“Netball requires just as much skill as football. Is it purely a discrimination of women in sport?”

And Ben Richards from the West Midlands, wrote: “Netball is like the female equivalent to rugby or football.

“I have played netball on a number of occasion and have found I have the same aches and sometimes the same amount of bruises as I do from playing rugby!”

Netball requires just as much skill as football. Is it purely a discrimination of women in sport?

Stephanie David

Exeter University graduate, Caitlin Widdows, was less optimistic.

“A competitive standard can only be achieved if more nations view it as a national sport and I very much doubt that this will happen before 2012.

“2016 is much more likely. Perhaps.”

But with netball played globally by 20 million participants in more than 70 countries, observers argue the sport should already have earned Olympic status.

SEARCH NETBALL for:

The bid is backed by The Co-operative Group which sponsors the Superleague.

And Prime Minister Gordon Brown has already indicated he would like to see netball included in the London 2012 programme as a showcase event.

England Netball’s CEO, Paul Clarke, believes the inclusion of netball in the Olympic programme will increase participation by raising the game’s profile and showcasing the top players as role models.

JOIN: 18,000 people have already shown their support

He added: “The government strategy recognises that women and girls are under-represented in sport generally and possess the highest drop-off rates – and netball is superbly positioned to address all of these issues.”

With the next review of the Olympic programme scheduled for 2009, you can show your support for the Olympic bid by joining the Facebook group. Just login and search groups for 'Bid To Get Netball In The 2012 Olympics'.


*** SHOULD NETBALL BE AN OLYMPIC SPORT? HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW! ***

IN PRINCIPLE...

15.07.08, 7:21pm

Totally agree it's a great idea - but don't there have to be more countries playing before it can happen? I'm sure that is what the international federation has been saying for a while - and nothing that happens on Facebook is sadly going to change that! We should all be getting behind what the international bods are doing to encourage them to sign up more countries!

• Posted by: MavsFan • Report Comment

IT'S ABOUT TIME!

08.07.08, 5:20pm

I think it's great that people are starting to really get behind Netball. It's a great sport that requires a lot of fitness, strength, agility and stamina. It's up there with the rest of the elite sports and definitely deserves a place in the Olympics, I can't believe it's not included already!
It's about time women in sport started to get the recognition they deserve.

• Posted by: Jas86 • Report Comment

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