Workshop on the Real Impacts and Risks to Women and Girls in Sport 

Sport can be a place of joy, where all of us can belong and reach full potential. Sport is all about celebrating different kinds of strength, skill and beauty. But in the last years, the LGBTI+ community, particularly transgender women and women with intersex characteristics, have faced increased attacks when it comes to their right to participate in sport.

Most recently, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced a new policy requiring universal genetic “sex testing” of all women and girls – an astounding reversal on gender equality that sets women’s sport back decades. Through a non-transparent, rushed and closed-door process, the IOC has adopted a universal policy excluding trans and intersex athletes from competing in the women’s category at the Olympic Games and or any qualifying event. 

In contrast to the ‘closed doors’ approach, this workshop today will highlight the necessity of a truly collaborative process – because we want to address this the way any athlete would a challenge. If we can be curious, open-minded and listen to each other, we can create a sport and a society where everyone belongs. That’s what we want: policies that are developed by listening to people, not deciding for them. Policies that make room for everyone, that welcome and celebrate the full spectrum of human life in all of our different forms, shapes and sizes.

The primary goals of this workshop are: to provide a safe space for trans and intersex athletes to share their lived experience with these exclusionary policies, to highlight the real risks women and girls face in the context of sport and to strengthen Network members’ knowledge and capacity to speak about these issues and advocate for others. We believe an inclusive, fair and safe world of sport is possible – and together we can make it happen.

***More details coming soon.