Courting trouble
IS TENNIS a woman’s game? Apparently French tennis player Gilles Simon thinks not. And he’s not ashamed to admit it openly. The 27-year-old sportsman created an uproar amongst his peers with his allegedly sexist comments.
On Tuesday, Gilles asserted that male tennis players should actually get paid more than their female counterparts — rather than the current norm of an equal remuneration— for Grand Slams, because their game is more popular. To add fuel to fire, he said that men spend twice as much time on court than women and offer a ‘more attractive’ game to the audience. What ensued was a verbal backlash by female tennis veterans Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams. Sharapova hit back saying that women deserved every penny they get for a game, while Williams derided Simon by saying that a lot more people watch Sharapova play because ‘she’s more attractive than him’.
Let’s leave all the accusations of chauvinism aside and objectively analyse Simon’s words. His argument is overtly based on the simple principles of demand and input— since men’s game is more popular and they work harder, they should get paid more. But his rationale is shoddy at best. A Rafael Nadal or a Roger Federer match surely draws sports fanatics from all over the world. But it’s certainly not like people flip the TV channel when World No. 1 Sharapova — an iconic sportswoman for the past seven years— is playing. In fact, all eyes are excitedly fixed on sports celebrities like Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic as they face their opponents with confidence and grace.
While it’s true that men spend more time on the ground — the first player to win three sets in a men’s game is declared the winner, as opposed to winning only two in a women’s game. This rule acknowledges a natural physical difference between the strength and endurance between men and women. But it should certainly not be taken to imply a woman’s disadvantage in putting up a more popular and effective performance on the field. In fact, Simon’s logic is used by many employers who pay women less than men because they think that their child-bearing and other familial responsibilities will be an impediment in their performance. But just because women can’t put in late hours at the work place because of they have to give time to their children, doesn’t make them less effective workers.
Participation in sports is actually a big achievement for women. It has shows that physical activity and strength is not the exclusive domain of men; women, too, can hit an ace, and receive a hearty applause for it. They have fought long and hard for equal pay and equal respect on the court, and for a male colleague to demean their effort is certainly disappointing for them and sports fans around the world.
THE NEW Emirates Airline terminal to open at the Dubai International Airport in January is another testament to Dubai’s focus on investing in the future through infrastructure projects that will contribute to long-term growth and overall social and economic welfare.
The phenomenal growth of the Dubai International Airport has its add-on effect not only on the aviation sector of the Emirate but also across various other growth sectors including hospitality, retail and logistics.
These sectors, often described as the ‘traditional building blocks’ of the economy, have been a prime driver of Dubai’s growth, and have enabled the city to underline its growth credentials, despite the global financial challenges. The commendable growth achieved by the Dubai International Airport and Emirates Airline is indeed one of the most compelling success stories in the Gulf region. The airport is poised to become one of the world’s busiest airports, having already clocked about 51 million passengers in 2011.
Emirates Airline, likewise, has set industry benchmarks, adding new destinations, and strengthening its fleet, especially at a time when several established global players are facing an uncertain future. The new terminal, developed at a cost of Dh12 billion, will further enhance the convenience of visitors to Dubai. With an annual capacity of 19 million passengers, the terminal will feature several advanced amenities including an Automated People Mover and a special Sky Train for vertical transportation system. The success of Emirates and the airport is a model for every enterprise in Dubai. Operating in a competitive environment and yet finding its definite niche calls for clear thought leadership and determination.
As His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, observed, “Emirates airline is a development success story and a national accomplishment. It serves our children and the future generations.”
What lessons can enterprises draw from the success of Emirates? The first and most important insight is the need for enterprises — both in the public and private sector — to establish clear brand differentials, which are defined by service and quality. The airline company has been investing in strengthening its fleet with the most-modern carriers; simultaneously, it has also upped the service standards to ensure that flying the airline is an experience than another journey.
The growth of Emirates and the airport is owed to the visionary guidance of Dubai’s leadership. Every investment made by Dubai for the future is an investment for the city’s future generations.
The infrastructure investment on the new terminal will further contribute to the passenger experience. As airports globally have learnt the hard way, passengers not only demand a comfortable airline, they also need on-ground service. The new terminal will mark the beginning of another new era of growth for Dubai’s aviation sector.
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