Billie Jean King says coronavirus is crippling women’s sports. She has a plan to help
Activist and former tennis great Billie Jean King isn’t one for sitting on the sidelines during a time of crisis, even during a worldwide pandemic, so she and Yahoo Sports are using the power of social media and live streaming to help out.
The coronavirus has managed to bring the entire world to its knees in a short time span. The virus has radically changed what’s considered normal in our daily lives and has made us miss the little physical activities we once did, such as taking a walk in the park or playing a pick-up game of basketball. While adults miss these things, children and young adults are also suffering.
Sports are often therapeutic for children, especially during trying times, and can serve as a welcome distraction from the stress of the real world. But because of COVID-19, that sports outlet has been frozen in time with no definite return date to look forward to.
This isn’t lost on King.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the tennis legend has been keeping herself busy by shining light on people who are suffering. Recently, she teamed up with children’s author Brad Meltzer to narrate the story he wrote about her extraordinary life story entitled “I Am Billie Jean King.” The video, which is meant to inspire children, was released on Meltzer’s YouTube channel.
However, the thought that children, especially young girls, are being affected by the suspension of the sports world weighs heavy on King’s mind, she says, so she’s taking action.
“We want to keep the girls exercising and playing,” King told Yahoo Sports. “It helps not just physically, but mentally and emotionally, which we know many are at risk of suffering from right now.”
In order to help, King and the Women’s Sports Foundation, a foundation she started in 1974, and Yahoo Sports are staging a special live event featuring an iridescent plethora of female superstar athletes such as soccer midfielder Carli Lloyd, champion swimmer Katie Ledecky, NFL coach Katie Sowers, Oregon Ducks superstar Sabrina Ionescu and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to name a few. The event will be moderated by journalist Cari Champion.
The influential sports figures will share personal stories of facing, and conquering, challenges head on and will be able to interact virtually with fans, who can ask questions via Facebook or Twitter.
The event, #WeKeepPlaying, will be streamed live on the Yahoo Sports site at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 11.
This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 1:56 PM with the headline "Billie Jean King says coronavirus is crippling women’s sports. She has a plan to help."