2020Champions_Yearbook_Final

200-days-to-go until ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020

2020Champions_Yearbook_Final

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 is fast approaching, with 200 days-to-go until the opening match, in which hosts Australia take on India at Sydney Showground Stadium on Friday 21 February.

In 2020, Australia will host two ICC T20 World Cups, with the women’s (21 February – 8 March) and men’s (18 October – 5 November) tournaments to be played as standalone events across the country.

Both events will culminate in finals at the world’s largest cricket stadium, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, presenting an opportunity to set a new world record for the highest attendance at a women’s sporting fixture on Sunday 8 March 2020, International Women’s Day.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Local Organising Committee is delighted to announce that leaders from across Australia have pledged their support as ‘2020 Champions’, each helping to inspire people to take part and continue the positive momentum in sport for women and girls.

The first wave of ‘2020 Champions’ represents a broad cross-section of the Australian community, all of whom share a passion for the power of sport to inspire positive change.

The initial list of ‘2020 Champions’ is listed below.

Select quotes from ‘2020 Champions’;

Elizabeth Broderick AO, UN Special Rapporteur and Independent Expert on discrimination against women, Founder Male Champions of Change said;“We know that a single sporting event can shift hearts and minds in ways that might otherwise take years or even decades. Seeing our entire community get behind the growth of women’s cricket and this event in particular will send a powerful message globally.”

General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC: Former Governor-General of Australia said;“I am delighted to throw my support behind cricket’s T20 World Cup in 2020, especially Australia’s big ambitions for the Women’s T20 World Cup. As Governor-General, I was proud to work with Cricket Australia to establish the Governor-General’s XI to support the development of women’s cricket here in Australia and I am confident that the Women’s T20 World Cup next year will only accelerate the growth of the game for women and girls here locally and around the world. While I’ll be backing the home team, I know we can all look forward to entertaining cricket from all the competing teams and I wish them well for their preparations.”

Dr Bridie O’Donnell, Director, Victorian Office for Women in Sport and Recreation said;“The last 12 months we have seen a seismic shift in the reporting and performances of the world’s best female athletes, and the T20 World Cup will be another vital step to inspire positive change and achieve gender equality in Australian sport.”

Justin Langer, Head Coach, Australian Men's Cricket Team said;“The fact there are two separate tournaments for women and men means cricket has two bites at the cherry to create a buzz, create heroes and inspire the next generation of players and supporters. And with the final of the women’s tournament set for International Women’s Day at the MCG and the target set at selling out the venue, there’s the potential for a history-making occasion right there."

Speaking about the ‘2020 Champions’ program, ICC T20 World Cup Local Organising Committee CEO, Nick Hockley said;“The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is an opportunity to showcase equality through sport on the global stage.

“We’ve seen at the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup and ICC Cricket World Cup what a powerful and uniting force major sporting events can be and we are humbled to have such inspirational leaders join together to help maximise the positive impact of Australia 2020.

“We look forward to welcoming our 2020 Champions and the broader community at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in just 200 days’ time.”

‘2020 Champions’ who have pledged their support so far:

  • Alex Blackwell: ICC T20 World Cup winning Captain
  • Ann Sherry AO: Chair, UNICEF Australia
  • Bronwyn Klei: CEO, Netball South Australia
  • Carol Fox: President, Women Sport Australia
  • Christina Matthews: CEO, Western Australian Cricket Association
  • Christine McLoughlin: Chair and Co-Founder Minerva Network
  • Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO: Former Governor-General of Australia
  • Diana Chan: Former winner, Masterchef
  • Dipen Rughani: CEO, Newland Global Group
  • **Dr Bridie O'Donnell:**Director, Victorian Office for Women in Sport and Recreation
  • General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC: Former Governor-General of Australia
  • Giles Gunesekera: Founder and CEO of Global Impact Initiative
  • Gönül Serbest: CEO, Global Victoria
  • Gus Worland: Founder of Gotcha4Life
  • Jodie Fields: ICC T20 World Cup winning Captain
  • Jodie Hawkins: General Manager, Sydney Sixers
  • Justin Langer AM: Head Coach, Australian Men's Cricket Team
  • Kate Jenkins: Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner
  • Kate Palmer AM: CEO, Sport Australia
  • Kath Koschel: Former cricketer, Founder, The Kindness Factory
  • Kerrie Mather: CEO, Sydney Cricket and Sports Grounds
  • Lisa Sthalekar: Former Australian player and T20 World Cup winner; cricket commentator
  • Liz Broderick AO: UN Special Rapporteur and Independent Expert on discrimination against women, Founder Male Champions of Change
  • Marne Fechner: CEO, Netball Australia
  • Mary Konstantopoulos: Founder, Ladies Who Leg Spin
  • Mel Jones OAM: Former Australian player and cricket commentator
  • Patrick Delany: CEO, Foxtel
  • **Preeti Daga:**Vice President Victoria, Australia India Business Council
  • Sheba Nandkeolyar: Co-Founder, CEO MultiConnexions Group
  • Sonia Sadiq Gandhi: Director, Gandhi Creations
  • Suzy Nicoletti: Managing Director, Twitter Australia

ICC T20 World Cup 2020 links: