The newest Olympic sport? Finding ways to fight sexism at Tokyo’s Games

Jul 30, 2021 at 02:31 PM CDT

sexism olympics

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The Olympics are supposed to celebrate extraordinary achievement, but instead the Games are dealing with sexism challenges from its leaders and within the sporting organizations.

Alex Peebles

THE OLYMPICS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT EXTRAORDINARY
ACHIEVEMENT.

BUT INSTEAD, THE GAMES ARE DEALING WITH ISSUES OF SEXISM.
FROM ITS LEADERS AND FROM WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION ITSELF. LET’S
GET THIS STRAIGHT.

IT STARTED WITH THE HEAD OF THE TOKYO OLYMPICS ORGANIZING
COMMITTEE. HE RESIGNED AFTER MAKING “INAPPROPRIATE REMARKS ABOUT
WOMEN SAYING MEETINGS WITH MANY FEMALE BOARD DIRECTORS WOULD
“TAKE A LOT OF TIME” BECAUSE THEY “TALK TOO MUCH”.

-THE COMMITTEE BOARD CURRENTLY HAS 24 MEMBERS, FIVE OF WHOM ARE
WOMEN.

SPANISH ARTISTIC SWIMMER, ONA CARBONELL, EXPRESSED HER
“DISAPPOINTMENT AND DISILLUSIONMENT” ABOUT THE ACCOMMODATIONS
MADE FOR ATHLETES CURRENTLY BREASTFEEDING.

DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS FAMILIES ARE NOT ALLOWED. BUT AFTER A
HANDFUL OF NURSING MOMS COMPLAINED, ACCOMMODATIONS WERE MADE.
THE BABIES NEED TO STAY OFF SITE AT A PRIVATE HOTEL, WHICH MEANS
SOME ATHLETES NEED TO TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH TO NURSE
THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

GERMANY’S WOMEN’S GYMNASTIC TEAM DITCHED THEIR LEOTARDS AND
BARE LEGS FOR A UNITARD.

THE GERMAN GYMNASTICS FEDERATION SAYS THEIR OUTFITS TAKE A STAND
AGAINST SEXUALIZATION IN THE SPORT.

THE TEAM SAID THEY MADE THE DECISION TOGETHER TO ENCOURAGE
FEMALE ATHLETES TO WEAR WHAT MAKES THEM FEEL COMFORTABLE.

-NOW THEY CAN HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE DURING THEIR
PERFORMANCES AS MEN DO.

[WIPE]

A MALE FENCER MADE IT TO THE TOKYO GAMES DESPITE BEING SUSPENDED
FROM COMPETITION AND UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR AT LEAST THREE
ACCUSATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, THAT’S ACCORDING TO SEVERAL
MEDIA OUTLETS. HOW?

U-S-A FENCING CREATED A “SAFETY PLAN” TO KEEP HIM AWAY FROM WOMEN
AND OUT OF THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE.
HE EVEN FLEW ON A SEPARATE PLANE.

– AFTER HE APPEALED THOSE CONDITIONS, THE ENTIRE U-S-A FENCING TEAM
SIGNED A LETTER DEMANDING THE RESTRICTIONS STAY IN PLACE.

THERE ARE *SOME MAJOR STRIDES IN THE FIGHT FOR EQUALITY OF THE
SEXES.

THE OLYMPIC ORGANIZATION ADDED TWO DOZENS EVENTS STARTING WITH
THE TOKYO GAMES TO HELP EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD.

THEY INCLUDE ADDING THE FIRST WOMEN’S 1500 METER SWIMMING AND THE
FIRST MEN’S 800 METER SWIMMING EVENTS, CREATING EQUAL
COMPETITIONS.

IT’S THE FIRST TIME FOR THE WOMEN’S C1 WHITE WATER CANOE EVENT.
THERE WILL NOW BE SIX CANOE SPRINT EVENTS EACH FOR MEN AND
WOMEN, THOUGH THE DISTANCES DIFFER.

NEW FENCING EVENTS MEAN NOW, MEN AND WOMEN WILL EACH HAVE TEAM
EVENTS IN ALL THREE FENCING DISCIPLINES.

AND THERE ARE SEVEN NEW MIXED TEAM EVENTS ADDED TO THE OLYMPICS
– INCLUDING IN TRACK AND FIELD, TABLE TENNIS AND JUDO.

CAN YOU SPOT SEXISM IN SPORTS? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS
BELOW.

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