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Billie Jean King to lead WTA-UNESCO partnership


 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 15:02

Tennis legend Billie Jean King has been named as the global mentor for the joint Sony Ericsson WTA Tour and UNESCO global campaign for gender equality.

The American, who won 39 grand slam titles and was responsible for founding the WTA Tour during a glittering career, will take on the role of Global Mentor for Gender Equality for the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour and UNESCO partnership.

King joins fellow tennis players Venus Williams, the partnerships global Promoter for Gender Equality, Frenchwoman Tatiana Golovin and Zheng Jie from China, who are regional Promoters of Gender Equality for the partnership.

This partnership is a strong step in an effort to improve gender equity issues on many levels and I am honoured to be part of this team, King said.

There is so much work still to be done when it comes to breaking down barriers to opportunity for women and girls throughout the world, and one of the most effective things we can do is combine our resources, energies and expertise.

UNESCO, the Womens Sports Foundation and the players of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour together can be a potent force for social change.

A Billie Jean King Leadership Internship programme was also announced today, which will be run by the Womens Sports Foundation, an organisation that King founded in 1974. The programme will be funded by the partnership.

The Womens Sports Foundations mission is to increase opportunity and participation for women and girls in sport.

It is the sixth programme to be launched and will provide an opportunity for one young woman to gain experience in the sports industry through an internship at the Womens Sports Foundation.

During the launch, which took place in Doha, UNESCOs Director-General, Ko

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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.