Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Commonwealth gold medallists Jazz Carlin and Frankie Jones are among a group of high-profile sportswomen to criticise the Welsh media for failing to give enough prominence to women’s sport.

In an open letter sent to BBC Cymru Wales, ITV Wales, S4C and Media Wales, the 20 high-profile female signatories said the under-representative picture was “deeply concerning”, highlighting the fact that women’s sport makes up “just 7 per cent of the sport we read about” and “10 per cent of the television coverage”.

Statistics quoted by the letter come from research compiled by equality body Women in Sport. The letter was published to coincide with International Women’s Day (8 March), and follows the recent decision made by BBC Cymru Wales to decommission the Sport Wales programme.

“Unfortunately, what we have seen so far has been a replication of the same sports dominating both digital and mainstream media coverage,” the letter continued. “We believe that sport plays a special role in Welsh identity. For so long it has defined us on a world stage, through the feats of a wide range of athletes.

“This heritage should be celebrated and the future World, Olympic and Paralympic champions given the spotlight. We believe this is a risk if a rebalancing of coverage is not achieved.”

The full list of names supporting the letter:

Baroness Tanni Grey-ThompsonNon Evans (multi-sport)

Anne Ellis (Commonwealth Games Council for Wales and Welsh Sports Association)Olivia Breen (athletics)

Caroline Spanton (rugby)Jess Fishlock (football)

Frankie Jones (gymnastics)Manon Carpenter (cycling)

Jazz Carlin (swimming)Michaela Breeze (weightlifting)

Anne Adams King (Welsh Cycling CEO and former Olympic swimmer)Helen Phillips (Commonwealth Games Council for Wales)

Suzy Drane (netball)Sarah Jones (Welsh Netball CEO)

Sarah Powell (Sport Wales CEO)Laura McAllister (chair Sport Wales)

Nicole Cooke (cycling)Sarah Thomas (hockey)

Jayne Ludlow (football)Non Stanford (triathlon)