When Jan Rintala competed in sports during her high school days in the 1960s, she did so without realizing the vast difference in athletic opportunities for men and women.

Today marks the 15th anniversary of National Girls and Women in Sport Day, which celebrates the positive influence of female athletic participation and just how far women’s athletics have come.

Rintala, an NIU kinesiology and physical education professor, began to push for support of women’s athletics and increasing opportunities and participation since she lettered on basketball and volleyball at Montana State University. As president of the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, she relishes the benefits millions of female athletes have benefitted from Title IX, which, as part of the Elementary School Education Act, forbids public schools from discriminating in any educational program or activity (including sports) on the basis of gender.

“From a national perspective, this is a time to see how far we have come in increasing the opportunities for girls and women to participate in sports at all levels,” Rintala said.

Rintala works in in Washington, D.C., for the NGWS Day making speeches. Also on hand for the celebration will be U.S. national soccer team member Julie Foudy, the WNBA’s Lisa Leslie, Crista Ford of the U.S. Bobsled team and tennis great Billie Jean King. Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, who led the push for the passing of Title IX will also be on hand, as well as New York sen. Hillary Clinton.

Rintala notes that women’s sports can be seen commonly across the country in playgrounds, park districts, high schools, Division I arenas and the Olympics. Women also engage in other sports-related activities, such as officiating, participating as athletic trainers and as coaches.

“We see an increasing number of girls and women participating in sport at all ages,” Rintala said. “We see girls and women engaging in sports and physical activities that challenge our traditional ideas of what girls and women should be able to do.”

While the progress of female participation and opportunities pleases Rintala, she remains wary and believes that women’s athletic participation must continue to grow. Issues regarding the abolishment of Title IX across the country still exist, as some schools complain about having to cut boys programs in order to satisfy the requirement of providing equal athletic opportunities for girls. Rintala believes that in some parts of the country, more importance is still being placed on men’s sports.