While players from four Pacific countries vie for spot in the OFC Women’s Nations Cup in Fiji, in a commentary box a special group of women in media will also be taking a step toward their sporting dream.

The women from Vanuatu, Fiji and Solomon Islands are taking part in a special training program to promote gender balance in sports broadcasting.

They have been chosen to take part in a commentary workshop run by the Women in News and Sport initiative (WINS).

WINS is an initiative of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s International Development Unit and funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Australian aid program.

Elizabeth Osifelo is one of the participants:

“I am looking forward to this training because it will give me the skills and knowledge to become a professional sports commentator in the future and rise up to the challenge of being a female in male dominated field which is very evident in sports reporting in Solomon Islands.”

The broadcasters will attend an intense commentary training workshop with ABC commentator and broadcaster Aaron Kearney in Lautoka.

“While there are exciting strides being taken in women’s sport, the opportunities for female commentators remain rare and those that do get a chance are too often treated unfairly by certain sectors of the public. We at WINS are helping to grow a world class pool of talent,” Kearney said.

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.

You can find out more on the program here: http://www.abc.net.au/abc-international-development/projects/women-in-news-and-sport/