Michele Kang, the proprietor of three football clubs including the London City Lionesses, has unveiled a $50m (£39.2m) international investment aimed at enhancing the health of elite female athletes.
Kang, who is also the owner of the eight-time women’s European champions Lyon in France and Washington Spirit in the United States, expressed her desire for this initiative to symbolize “a new age for female athletic capability” and to “foster enduring change”.
She has launched a venture named Kynisca to oversee the project and revealed the first investment this week—$4m (£3.14m) allocated to the USA women’s rugby sevens programme.
“Kynisca will be at the forefront of female performance research, enabling us to cease training women as if they were merely smaller versions of men and unlocking their true capabilities,” stated Kang.
The funding is expected to enhance the playing and training conditions, attract elite technical staff, and drive innovation along with advancements in sports science.
Bill Goren, the CEO of USA Rugby, expressed that the organization was “astonished and tremendously thankful for this groundbreaking contribution”.
Kang mentioned her intention to consolidate the resources and expertise from her existing clubs while also investing in initiatives across Africa, the United States, Asia, and Europe.
“We aim to offer opportunities for girls and women globally to engage in high-level sports and achieve their potential under optimal conditions,” she remarked.
“A considerable portion of resources will be dedicated to building capabilities that can be shared among all teams, including performance science and technology, data analytics, global talent scouting, and the development of sporting staff.”
