Pacific women preparing to play their part in sporting history

The Pacific is about to have the historic opportunity to hear four women commentate a major tournament in local languages.

The broadcasters from Vanuatu and Fiji will be calling the Oceania Football Confederation Women's Nations Cup Finals in Bislama and Fijian, as well as English.

Lavenia Yalovi from Fiji says she is excited to be calling in the local language:

“I will be able to ‘reach the unreached’ and get them to understand and enjoy the game in the comfort of their homes or wherever they will be listening or watching from. Who knows, one of them may be a future female commentator in years to come!”

Joining her is fellow Fijian Josephine Navula, and Ni-Vanuatu women Adele Willie and Jennesa Hinge Moli.

They have this opportunity through the Women in News and Sport initiative (WINS) run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s International Development Unit to promote gender balance in sports broadcasting. The women took part in intense commentary training in August with ABC commentator and broadcaster Aaron Kearney in Fiji - now they have the chance to put the learning into action. They will be offering an alternative service calling the semi-finals of the competition in Bislama and Fijian.

They will be based at the OFC headquarters in New Zealand where its commentary team is based. Jacqueline Tran Van is the OFC Head of Media and Communications:

“We are excited to be part of this initiative and to be able to provide a platform for these women to develop new skills under Aaron’s tutelage. There is a lack of opportunities for female football commentators in the Pacific and therefore we are delighted to be able to assist by offering an environment for these women to showcase their developing commentary talent and knowledge of football, and in their own languages too.”

The overall aim of WINS is to increase the opportunities for women in sports journalism and thereby create more representation for women in sports in news stories.

WINS is an ABCID initiative and funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Australian aid programme.

The OFC Women's Nations Cup Finals will be held in New Caledonia from 18 November to 1 December 2018. The winner earns a place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France next year, and at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in 2020.