November 8, 2022

Ladies. in Business & Sports

Linz, 11. 11. 2021 - In the presence of Federal Minister for Women Susanne Raab and ÖTV President Magnus Brunner, tournament director Sandra Reichel officially kicked off the "Ladies. in Business & Sports" initiative today, Thursday. The aims of the initiative are to promote sporting activities as well as professional career planning and the personal development of young women. The world-class tennis tournament "Upper Austria Ladies Linz" is a fixed annual meeting point for all participants in the initiative.

During the panel discussion moderated by Alina Zellhofer, which was broadcast live on ORF Sport+, tournament director Sandra Reichel explained: "We are Austria's most important women's sporting event and want to actively use this status and our networks to install a year-round active platform with a wide range of activities for young women."

Women in management positions are an enrichment

The Minister for Women is enthusiastic about this initiative. "I think it's important to show what great things women achieve in sport. This is also a women's political task. It is important to raise awareness here because women are also great role models for young girls. They should show that girls can also make it in sport - even in male-dominated sports. But also - as far as the economy is concerned - in management positions. Women are an asset there," said Susanne Raab.

As already reported, the first activity launched during the tournament week was the "1,000 tennis rackets for 1,000 girls aged five to twelve" campaign. The initiative has an important cooperation partnership with the Austrian Tennis Association. "We also have the task of getting more girls to play tennis. The kick-off for this took place on Sunday and it is incredible to see girls with shining eyes and a tennis racket in their hands," said Sandra Reichel.

Bringing Austria's women's tennis back to the top of the world rankings

ÖTV President Magnus Brunner stated: "One of the primary goals is to strengthen women's tennis in Austria and to bring it back to the extended world elite. This has to happen at a young age. And this requires well-trained coaches. And we need to push and develop the tournament landscape in Austria - especially in women's tennis. A highlight like here in Linz is of course very important. We also need to catch up in terms of female officials, for example female coaches and referees. We have a wide range of initiatives that we will be launching - the project is called "Ladies. in Tennis". It is really important to increase the proportion of women in sporting fields. "Tournament ambassador Barbara Schett recalled great moments in her career, which she ended in Linz in 2004. On the current topic, she said: "Women's and men's tennis is currently too divided by the WTA and ATP and, in my opinion, the entire product should be sold. Many women don't have the confidence to take on leadership positions or the like, especially because it's different with children. But we should support each other and lead the way and motivate young women to stick with it and work towards their goals."

Further information on the activities of the initiative is provided on an ongoing basis via the "Upper Austria Ladies Linz" homepage www. ladieslinz.at.

The final of the 31st Linz Women's Tennis Classic will be played on Friday, 12 November at 7 pm.

The award ceremony will take place in the presence of Federal Sports Minister and Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler, Upper Austria's Governor Thomas Stelzer and Linz's Deputy Mayor Karin Hörzing. The award ceremony will be accompanied by a musical performance by the Poxrucker Sisters.