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Post Info TOPIC: Petition for more money for the girls
goldfish


Futures qualifying

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Petition for more money for the girls
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Responding to a request from Paul on gbtennisgirls.com to publicise this.   Seems like a very worthy petition - Sarah Borwell was looking to sign it!

Paul's message:

Hi guys,

It's been talked, moaned and debated about for ages, so I felt I would try and do something: let's get the ITF to listen to fans and players and do something about the outrageous current situation where living costs are spiralling but challenger prize money has remained unchanged for 24 years.

The petition asks the ITF to consider the introduction of a Women's $15k challenger from 2010 - either replacing the 10k or running alongside as with the male circuit. It should be noted that in an era where Grand Slams offer equal pay how can the ITF justify offering bigger money events to men of the same standard for 10 years (the mens $15k was introduced in 1998). Many $15k's offer hospitality, so to keep the two circuits in line, I think this should be introduced for the women.

I have also raised the point that cost-cutting can be dangerous. Often the offical hotels are very expensive for girls at this level, and many take other accomdation. When you consider that girls as young as 14 are travelling alone, in countries where they don't speak the language, saving the pennies could be disasterous. Especially so when events won't do transfers to the tournament from hotels/hostels/b&b's that arent the 'official' one. I've therefore asked the ITF to encourage more private housing at events with local families and volunteers. Its popular in North and Central America, and also a few of the OZ events do it, buts its quite rare in Europe.

I actually think my last point is the most important. Its time for the ITF to start educating players in debt management and budgeting. With most players not reaching the $5k in prize money, but requiring around $30k to fund a full season, its scary to think of the sorts of debts and credit card bills some players are running up, just hoping one day they will make it big and it'll all be ok. If players want advice, or in a very dangerous situation where they can't pay money back, the ITF should have educational literature and even someone they can turn to for impartial and friendly advice to help them through.

If you support what I've put, please sign at:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/itfwomensevent


I'd love to hear what you all think. The reception at tennisforum.com has been great. I'm going to send an email to Jon Werteim to see if he'll mention it in his postbag.

If anyone is a member of another forum please post the link on my behalf. I only post here and tennisforum.

Perhaps we can really make a difference, and do something to help make the chasing the dream that little bit more viable.

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Madeline


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Signed.

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DJ


County player

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Me, too.

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PaulM


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Thanks guys. Been coming onto this site for a long time and kinda lurking so finally signed up.

Really hope can get alot of members from here on board, it really only takes 30seconds at most to sign the petition, and I think we can make a difference.

Am planning on upping the 'campaign' after the Olympics/new footie season hysteria has died down and sports editors are more receptive to these sorts of stories.

If anyone is a member of any other tennis/sporting message boards or blogs or anything please give a link to the site.

Thanks again to the couple of you who've already signed, and to those who will (hopefully!) sign in the future

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Happycynic


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Have often been astonished at the lack of any rises in futures prize funds. With the weak dollar as well, Europeans have had a massive hit this year.

Signed...

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indiana


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I have just signed it with comment :

This petition makes so many good and relevant points, that it was an easy decision to sign.

I really do hope that its points are seriously considered by these with the power and influence to make a difference.



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PockyTastic


Futures level

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Signed.

After reading Sarah's blogs about how costly and tough life on the tour is for most, how could I not?

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john


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Signed

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Salmon


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Whooah, Paul! Your petition made Wertheim's Mailbag. omfg.gif

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jon_wertheim/08/06/mailbag.0806/1.html

Good job, as that should get this across to thousands of people.















Signed.

-- Edited by Salmon at 13:19, 2008-08-07

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PaulM


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Yeah i saw that biggrineyepopping.gif

I emailed him about it, but didn't think it would get a mention. Obvisouly other people pointed it out to him too!

He's not signed it tho - meanie furiouswink.gif

Up to 116 now, not bad after 2 1/2 days.

Still no players signed up, they can remain anonymous, so hoping eventually word will get round and they'll sign. After all its in their interests, especially seeing as the $10,000 back in 1984 is now the equivalent of $20,600 today! weirdface

-- Edited by PaulM at 15:22, 2008-08-07

-- Edited by PaulM at 17:23, 2008-08-07

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johnnylad


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signed!

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PaulM


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do you think it'd be possible for this to get a mention and a link on the front page? i'm sure there's people who just read the site, but don't visit the messageboards, or more probably people who just visit the men's thread but not the women's?

you could just take the guts of salmon's copy of my post, but perhaps mention the fact Jon Wertheim has picked up on the campaign.

We all know there's some british journalists who look at this site for different/quirky tennis news stories, so there's always the chance someone might run with it?


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Salmon


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Brilliant as the idea is, it has a drawback. The moment 10Ks are upgraded to 15Ks, federations will cut down on the number of events because it'll take at least 5K more to host one.

Say, the ITF increases the minimum prize money to 25K for both men and women to help players - but that would hurt them in reality because you wouldn't have more than five or six tournaments in a week. So the ITF needs to find out if the trade off between the prize money increased and the number of events lost due to the upgradation is going to be positive or not.

It's far tougher than "Let there be light", I'm afraid. cry.gif What we really need is more interest in tennis outside the top 20.








-- Edited by Salmon at 16:06, 2008-08-11

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steven


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That's an interesting point. Does anyone know how the number of 10Ks now compares with the number 24 years ago, i.e. what's the total money in the pot for the lower-level ITF events?

Whatever the answer, it would seem sensible to have a 15K option, as for the men, though "many $15k's offer hospitality" is a bit of an exaggeration - a quick count reveals that less than 20% of them do.

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PaulM


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20% of low-level events is quite alot when compared to zero. And as I've stressed, the guys have had these events paying them a bit more (its not a great amount but it all helps) for 10 years now.

This is from last year: President of the ITF, Francesco Ricci Bitti commented: "The ITF commends Wimbledon on its decision to offer equal prize money for both men and women. This is an important step forward not only for womens tennis but also for women in sport. Both mens and womens tennis are blessed with outstanding athletes who attract audiences around the world, both live and on television, to our sport. Wimbledons decision emphasises this factor but also recognises the growing depth in womens tennis and the changing market forces in our sport."

Yet the ITF have such obvious inequality between its tours!! Thats one of my main issues with this whole thing.

Last year was 217 10k's (417 total events). The ITF only provide total tournament numbers/prize money for the years 1983-2005. It's not broken down by level which is a bit annoying. But in 1984 there was a total of 76 events (offering $5,000-$50,000). This had increased to 184 events in 1992 (the year the $75k was introduced). By 2000 there were 309 events of all prize money levels.

The total money for ALL ITF womens events in 2007 (ie including 100's, 75's and 50's) was $9,495,000. Of this, $5,620,000 is for 25's and 10's.

Also some events should go. There are weeks with 12 events in and lots of empty draws. That serves no purpose. Yes its good that places like Outer Siberia and The Western Sahara have a 10k for local players, but if only 10 players show-up, is it really doing anything to help the game in that area?

-- Edited by PaulM at 19:39, 2008-08-11

-- Edited by PaulM at 19:43, 2008-08-11

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