Billie Jean King invited to women's sports expo

Tennis legend Billie Jean King has been invited to speak at the Women In Sports Expo slated for next month.

And if she declines Martina Navratilova could be the replacement speaker.

Donna Watson, president of the Bermuda National Athletics Association, made that announcement at a press conference this morning.

The Expo is scheduled for April 26-27 at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess in Bermuda.

Also invited for the event are multiple Olympic gold medallist Dara Torres, CBS sportscaster Bonnie Bernstein; Olympic bronze medallist Kellie Wells, four-time Ironman world champion Chrissie Wellington, and paralympian medallist Anjali Forber-Pratt. Watson said negotiations are still in process for the celebrities.

Bermudian Olympians Arantxa King, Jillian Terceira, Jessica Lewis and Katura Horton-Perinchief are also scheduled to speak.

Watson said: “Unfortunately Flora Duffy is unable to make it due to her preparing for her graduation and final exams”.

Watson said the theme of the Expo is ‘Women in Sports Rock.”

She said: “We are looking at a top international athlete to speak at the event. At the moment we have an invitation out to Billie Jean King.

“Billie Jean King will be excellent because she is such a female advocate in sports — getting women to get paid the same amount in tennis (as men). We’re either going to be her or Martina Navratilova we’re bringing in for the banquet.

“Like I told our committee, I want somebody who is going to bring people out, and not just women for the banquet. Because I’m sure the guys would like to hear what Billie Jean or Martina Navratilova has to say.”

Watson said BNAA head coach Troy Douglas was behind the original idea for the event.

“It is also an initiative of the International Olympic Committee that each country at least once a year have an event that focuses on women.”

Friday night will be a banquet with a 5k run/walk and one mile Little Girls Rock Run.

The Expo will begin on noon on Saturday, April 27 with various international and local Olympians speaking.

There will also be demonstrations such as Zumba, skipping and gymnastics.

Watson said: “We will be having a panel discussion at the end of the day to discuss women in sports, health issues, sports and education and various other topics.”

Bermuda’s own Carifta legend Branwen Smith-King, Pauline Davis, Esther Maynard and Anthi will be some of the speakers.

Watson added this event is aimed to bring in people from outside of Bermuda and invitations to attend have been sent to the athletes who participated in last month’s Bermuda Marathon Weekend.

“We have also been in contact with our neighbours from the Caribbean who are very interested in sending their female administrators and athletes to the event.

“We have reached out to all of the NSGBs (National Sports Governing Bodies) to invite athletes and administrators to the event.”