The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, August 6, 1996               TAG: 9608060004
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Editorial 
                                            LENGTH:   42 lines

TITLE IX HAS BOOSTED WOMEN'S SPORTS LET THE GAINS CONTINUE

In the current enthusiasm for getting government off our backs, it's well to remember that there are times when a congressional mandate has accomplished what individual action did not.

A case in point, showcased by the just-ended centennial Olympics, is the emergence of womens' sports as a nonfrivolous, legitimate enterprise. It is unlikely that the evolution would have occurred in the United States as rapidly or completely without the fairness demands of Title IX.

And to the extent that the U.S.A. drives attitudes elsewhere, the increased emphasis here on female athletes has undoubtedly boosted competition worldwide.

In many ways, the emergence of women was the story of this year's games. Evidence of the transformation is the fact that tickets to the women's field-hockey final were actually being scalped. Time was when you couldn't have given away such seats.

Overall, about 3,800 women participated in the games - still well behind the 7,000 men but far more than in any previous games.

How did the American female athletes excel? Let us count the ways:

In the true grit demonstrated by the gymnastic team in winning its first group gold (and a spot on a Wheaties box).

In the dominance of the women's basketball team and the success of U.S. women in other team sports.

In the performances of dozens of individual women, from sprinter Gail Devers to swimmer Amy Van Dyken.

No one imagines that Title IX, which demands equity in funding for men's and women's sports, has eliminated bias in every junior-high or high school or college in the country. Far from it. Too often still, it's an uphill battle to ensure that teams exist for girls or that salaries for women approach those of men.

But the gap is tremendously narrowed by the requirements of Title IX. As with most efforts to create a fairer world, success depends on swaying individual hearts. Still, government can be the pace-maker that sets a steady, forward beat.

by CNB