"Wrong to put that pressure on someone who is so young"

The International Olympic Committee, IOC, has commissioned the individual Olympic sports to set their own age limits for participation in the Olympic Games.

At present, this means, for example, that karate has an 18-year age limit, while skateboarding has no age limit at all.

It was noticed on the podium at the Tokyo Olympics last summer where the Japanese Momiji Nishiya, 13, and Kokona Hiraki, 12, took gold in the skateboard's street-branch and silver in the park, respectively.

- In Tokyo, the gold medalists were 13 years old and it was cute and nice in itself, but there were several who wondered if you should be an Olympic gold medalist when you are 13 years old.

Then, for example, you are too young to start at the Youth Olympics where you should be between 15 and 18 years old, says Gunilla Lindberg to SVT Sport.

"Pushed the issue quite hard"

Lindberg - who is Secretary General of the Swedish Olympic Committee, SOK - has worked within the IOC since 1996. Today she sits on the IOC's program commission and has for several years pushed the issue of age limits at the Olympic Games.

- I have pushed this issue quite hard, but the decision is made by the board, she says.

It was skateboarding that made Lindberg open his eyes to the question.

- When we were to arrange the World Beach Games 2019, and skateboarding was included in the program for the first time, we received registrations for 11- and 12-year-olds who wanted to bring their parents with them, Lindberg says.

Can not force the unions

The IOC can not force the Olympic sports federations to use age limits, but can, according to Lindberg, issue a recommendation to all federations.

Why do you think the IOC should issue an age limit recommendation?

- I do not think that children should play sports at that level.

You see, for example, these young Russian figure skaters and I think it is wrong to put that pressure on someone who is so young.

When asked what age the IOC should recommend, Lindberg answers 16 years.

- Many unions have already raised the age to 16, and then they may have reached puberty somewhat in any case.

Lindberg has high hopes that she succeeds in pushing through the issue of age limits and that a recommendation from the IOC is in place for the Paris Olympics 2024.

- Yes, I think so, says Lindberg.