Forum snaps up Davies’ account of women in sport

Forum Press has snapped up former Olympic swimmer and sports pundit Sharron Davies’ account of the struggle for women in sport, co-authored with award-winning sports journalist Craig Lord.

Editorial director George Owers bought world rights to Unfair Play: The Battle for Women’s Sports from Caroline Hardman at Hardman & Swainson, with publication slated for April 2023.

The book tackles subjects including trans athletes, misogyny and sexism. “On the face of it, women’s sport is on the rise, garnering more attention and grassroots involvement than ever before,” the synopsis reads. “However, in Unfair Play: The Battle for Women’s Sports the authors will show how in many respects progress is stalling, or even falling back.

“It’s time to fight back against the lingering misogyny that plagues sporting governance, media coverage and popular perceptions. This book will provide the facts, science and arguments that will help women in sport get the justice they deserve.”

“We are excited and privileged to be able to publish this highly topical defence of the rights of women to participate in sport fairly and equally,” Owers said. “Sharron is not only an Olympic legend, but also an eloquent, indefatigable defender of female interests in the sporting world.”

Davies added: “I’m excited to bring science, facts, specialist opinions and years of experience together in one book to show the struggles of the past and the much-maligned ongoing struggles woman’s sport still faces today. The basic right to equal opportunities of success in a career involving sport is still a much tougher challenge to anyone in this world who is female. 

“Biology has directly affected those and so many rights for millennia, allowing oppression and coercion of half the world’s population. By providing evidence I hope to help fight for what is fair, in a world where fair should matter.”