04 MARCH 2020
Ever since the first 22 women participated in the Olympic Games in Paris in 1900, the IOC has made great strides towards achieving greater gender balance during Games-time.
Female athlete on every team in Tokyo
Building on the continuous effort of the IOC to bring a gender balance to the sport programme of the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games (YOG), there will be an expected new record of 48.8% women’s participation at Tokyo 2020. And now, we have reached a stage where a concerted effort can be made to ensure that, for the first time, all 206 NOCs are represented by a minimum one male and female athlete.
The process applied will be similar to the YOG; following the Tokyo 2020 sports entry deadline in June, the IOC will work on a case-by-case basis with the NOCs and International Federations to allocate additional out-of-quota places in individual sports (primarily in athletics and swimming).
Joint flagbearers
In addition, the IOC Executive Board will amend the IOC Protocol guidelines to allow one female athlete and one male athlete of each NOC to carry their country’s flag jointly during the Opening Ceremony athletes’ parade. The NOCs would remain responsible for nominating the male and female flagbearers and will be encouraged to do this.
This opportunity will dramatically amplify the IOC’s message relating to the importance of gender quality and reinforce it directly with each competing NOC. It will also give more opportunities to female athletes, allowing them to benefit from one of the most iconic moments of the Games.
If you have any questions about the new measures, please contact your NOC.
