Situation Report

ONE impressive gauge of the growing importance of women in sports is the prize money for which they compete. By that measure and others, women athletes have come a long way. In the U.S. during 1968, for example, women tennis players competed for less than $75,000; this year they will play for about $700,000. Women vied for $650,000 in 21 tournaments last year on the Ladies Professional Golf Association circuit; this year they will go after probably $950,000 in 27 tournaments. Purses for the Professional Women Bowlers Association totaled about $96,000 last year; the projected total for this year is $250,000.

Men still compete for larger purses, and the top men still win more than their female counterparts. Though no U.S. male tennis player matched Billie Jean King's earnings of $117,000 last year, Australian Rod Laver collected $292,000. In women's golf, last year's top moneymaker was Kathy Whitworth, with $43,500; in men's golf, 58 men made more than that, and Jack Nicklaus topped everybody with $244,490. In bowling, Patty Costello led the women last year with $5,275; John Petraglia led the men, with more than $85,000.

Apart from those who play for profit, growing numbers of women are turning to sport for pleasure, exercise or the excitement of amateur competition. Last year 9,525 women were registered with the Amateur Athletic Union for competition in track and field; this year, thus far, registration has leaped to 21,942. In swimming, 32,293 women were registered with the A.A.U. last year; registration this year already totals 38,408.

Track and field and swimming are among eleven sports open to women at the Olympic Games this summer in Munich. Men will compete in 22. There is further disparity in the number of events in each sport open to the sexes. In track and field, for instance, there are 24 events for men, only 14 for women (including two new events--the 1,500-meter run and 1,600-meter relay). Women used to get even shorter shrift. None were allowed to compete in anything at the first modern games in 1896. At the first ancient games, in Greece in 776 B.C., women were barred even as spectators. Those caught seeking furtive glimpses took part in an unofficial event: they were taken to the top of a giant rock and flung to their deaths.

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