Ahead of this year's Paris Olympics, NHK conducted a survey of organizations participating in each sport at the Games regarding the participation of transgender athletes in domestic competitions. In total, just over 40% of respondents answered ``.



The IOC (International Olympic Committee) has formulated guidelines that include non-discrimination based on the gender that transgender athletes and other athletes identify when participating in international competitions, and experts say that organizations that have not had discussions with athletes "It will be too late to wait for people to request action, and the situation will change if we just start by understanding transgender people."

After the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, the IOC developed guidelines for making transgender and other athletes eligible to participate in international competitions.

The guidelines

summarize basic ideas such as


▽not to discriminate based on self-identified gender


, etc. ▽to be fair , and are requested to be used as reference by international sports organizations.


While discussions have begun among international sports organizations, NHK conducted a survey by December last year targeting a total of 33 domestic sports organizations representing the 32 sports that will be held at the Paris Olympics, which will be held this year. We asked about gender athletes participating in domestic tournaments.

According to this survey, 42% of the respondents answered that they are currently having discussions or are planning to have them in the future.

As for the content of the discussion...

[Contents of discussion (multiple answers)]


▽“Exchanging information with international sports organizations and sports organizations in other countries and regions”…64%


▽“Establishing standards for participation in tournaments in which top-level athletes participate”…29%


▽“Establishment of participation standards for tournaments in which general athletes participate”…29%

On the other hand, 55% of the respondents said they had no plans to do so or were not considering it.

The reason is….

[Reason (multiple answers)]


▽“There have been no requests from athletes etc. for action”…78%


▽“There are not enough cases or data to use as material for discussion”…61%

Expert: “Situations can change just by starting from a place of understanding.”

Professor Kyoko Kurita, Chukyo University

Professor Kyoko Kakuta of Chukyo University, who is an expert on sports and gender issues, said, ``We are beginning to see the expansion of rights for transgender people in Japan, such as the enactment of the Act on Promotion of Understanding for LGBT People. I think transgender people are now voicing their desire to participate in sports."



On the other hand, it is worrisome that many organizations answered, ``We have not received any requests from athletes or others to take action.''It is too late once the requests for action have been made.If we just start by understanding the situation, Things are going to change.''