Olympics Games on the Last Meters to Gender Equality

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that, for the first time in the Olympic Games, this year’s edition in Tokyo, Japan is set to have almost as many female athletes as men.

“When it comes to equity and inclusion in sports, the world has come a long way, but we still have a long way to go,” says the nonprofit Women’s Sports Foundation to the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “The IOC’s announcement is warranted and encouraging; it signals great progress toward the ultimate goal of full equality in the Olympic Games, which continues to be a long journey.”

The IOC is pushing hard for women’s rights in sports, changing its rules to accommodate for both a male and a female athlete to carry their flag together during the Opening Ceremony. The committee is also aiming for full gender parity for Paris 2024.

There are still doubts this year’s Olympics will take place as scheduled, due to the coronavirus crises.