The body in charge of the Olympic Games, the IOC has warned the media against using harmful words to describe trans athletes participating in Paris Olympic Games.
The IOC itemized some words like ‘born male’, ‘biologically male’, and ‘sex change’ when referring to transgender athletes at the Paris 2024 Games.
The body said the words are problematic and can cause division in the world of sport.
In a 33-page press guideline document, the IOC claims such language is ‘problematic’ and ‘dehumanizing’ as they urge journalists or media to use terms like transgender woman/man.
The IOC document reads: “It is always preferable to emphasize a person’s actual gender rather than potentially calling their identity into question by referring to the sex category that was registered on their original birth certificate.”
This follows ongoing debates about fairness, with some sports banning transgender competitors who have undergone male puberty.