British athlete and sports administrator Sebastian Coe has pledged a “clear and uncompromising policy” to protect women's sport as he bids to become the next president of the International Olympic Committee.
Coe did not explicitly say he wanted to ban men who identify as transgender women from playing in the women's category, but he said so. say If the female category is not protected, “there will be no good outcome for women's sport,” she said. guardian Reported.
Mr. Coe competed in the 2012 London Olympics and is a two-time gold medalist in track and field. He won the best medals in the 1500 meters in 1980 and 1984 and two silver medals in the 800 meters in the same year.
The Briton promised not to be a “mediocre” president if he wins the election and vowed to make the IOC more democratic.
However, what has the media buzzing is his stance on transgender issues.
This week, Mr. Ko said “Protecting the female category… is absolutely non-negotiable,” the BBC said, adding: “If we are not ready… we will truly lose women's sport.”
as guardian He also told reporters that the IOC's current guidelines for transgender athletes are too vague.
“It has to be a clear policy and international federations have to have some flexibility,” Coe explained. “But it is the duty of the IOC to create such a situation. It is a very clear proposition to me – if you do not comply [the female] Or if for some reason we are ambivalent about this category, it will not end well for women's sports. I come from a sport where it is absolutely sacrosanct. ”
The issue exploded this year when the IOC allowed two boxers to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics despite allegedly failing gender tests and being found to have XY chromosomes. There was a lot of discussion. Unsurprisingly, both defeated their biologically female opponents and won the highest medals in the sport.
Another policy that Coe would like to see implemented is to create cash prizes for athletes across the board. This year, World Athletics introduced a $50,000 prize for gold medalists in Paris, but Coe wants to expand on that idea.
“I've always talked about the means and well-being of the athletes, and putting a financial burden on them in the games. I think we can do it in a way that respects the Olympic ideals, but we have different circumstances. You have to accept that,” he said.
Mr. Coe's ultimate pitch is that he is a candidate for change.
“I've been training for this most of my life. I think I can make a difference and I have a plan and a vision for what that change will look like,” he said. told the media.
“I think change is necessary, but in a respectful, sensible and thoughtful way that does not risk destabilization. We are in a rapidly changing environment. Change is absolutely important. I'm passionate about the Olympic movement. It's been my life,” he concluded.
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