Women's Sport Week returns to celebrate fantastic summer of sport

Positioned at the start of a packed summer of elite women's sport, Women's Sport Week will this year take place between 19- 25 June.

This year sees a host of international women's sporting events taking place, including the Women's Cricket and Rugby World Cups (taking place in the UK and Ireland) and the Women's European Football and Hockey championships, ensuring 2017 is set to be one of the greatest years yet for elite women's sport.

Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport, said: "We want more women and girls to get involved in sport and enjoy the huge benefits that being active brings to their lives.

Women's Sport Week is a fantastic campaign that encourages more women to try out a new sport or physical activity and celebrates the amazing achievements of our female athletes, coaches and volunteers. With a number of major events taking place, 2017 is a big year for women's sport and I know that the nation will be right behind our inspirational female stars."

This year's campaign will build on the momentum of last year's successful Women's Sport Week in October 2016, and will encourage the public to have fun and celebrate this vintage summer of women's sport by watching, listening, volunteering and taking part in sporting activities. It is hoped that the campaign will generate debate and encourage people to show their support, in order to help more women and girls reach their full potential through sport.

Mark Sampson, Patron of Women in Sport and manager of the England women's national football team, said: "Women's Sport Week aims to raise awareness of the many and varied opportunities for women and girls to take part in sport as well as highlighting the vital contribution women make to the sports industry. With our partners, Women in Sport wants to reach out to the whole community - women and men, girls and boys – and encourage everyone to join in, take part and enjoy this fantastic summer of women's sport."

Women's Sport Week partners and supporters include: Women in Sport, BBC Sport, Sky Sports, Department for Media, Sport and Culture, Sport England and sport's National Governing Bodies, including British Rowing.

Shelley Alexander, editorial lead for women's sport, BBC Sport, said: "BBC Sport is delighted to be continuing its partnership to showcase Women's Sport Week in 2017. With the rugby and cricket World Cups and the European Football Championship taking place this year, we'll devote even more resources to showcasing the best of women's sport across television, radio and online. We'll also examine the pertinent issues across women's sport, with our original journalism interrogating the state of play of women and girls' sport from the grassroots to the elite."

Anna Edwards, Producer of Sky's Sportswomen Show, commented: "Sky Sports is a huge supporter of women's sport all year round both on and off screen. Our schedule of this year includes the Women's Cricket World Cup, The British Open, the Kia Super League and the Vitality Netball Superleague. During Women's Sport Week Sky is looking forward to celebrating the achievements of those involved in grassroots sport right through to the female stars on our screens."

Annamarie Phelps, Chairman of British Rowing, added; "As a national governing body, we are proud to be supporting Women's Sport Week. Alongside colleagues in other governing bodies we'll be championing women's sport to encourage as many people as possible to watch, listen, volunteer and get active this summer. Having the likes of the BBC and Sky Sports supporting this week is a huge boost for women's sport and I actively encourage other media and organisations to come on-board to help us celebrate and promote a vintage summer of women's sport."

Manisha Tailor MBE, Director, Swaggarlicious Ltd said; "Women's Sport Week provides an opportunity for us to celebrate all women and girls who participate in sport. It is wonderful to be involved in a steering group that is helping to raise the profile of women in sport and most importantly, diverse communities, that are engaged and excited in sport on a regular basis. Through the work of my organisation in mental health, this will additionally provide a platform to highlight women and carers of those with a disability, for whom sport plays a crucial role in their everyday lives".