Loud and clear! Tokyo Olympics 2020 has proudly become the “first-ever gender-balanced Olympic Games in history”. With the participation of about 48.8 percent of women competitors, Tokyo Olympics 2020 will be a “landmark in gender equality”.
Breaking the long-existing stereotype of not including women in these sports, this year the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had tried to include and feature female athletes. Looking at the past history, the IOC this time is literally working towards making Olympics 2020 “a landmark in gender equality” and the “first gender-balanced games in history”.
New Benchmarks:
The percentage of female athletes competing at the Olympics in Japan has risen to nearly 49 percent from 34 percent in 1996. The percentage of female participation is continuously increasing year after year. The female athletes’ participation has reached to 48.8 percent this Tokyo Olympics, right from 45 percent at the 2016 Rio Games and 44.2 percent at the London held in the year 2012.
Historically, Olympics games deliberately tried to exclude women’s participation and banned them from competing during the initial phases of this sports event. It was only in the 1900 Paris Olympics when women were allowed to participate. It is important to note that only 22 women out of 997 athletes participated in the Olympics that was held in the year 1900.
It’s been 125 years now and things have changed drastically. From no women participation to a close to equal representation of women and men this year, the Olympics has come a long way.
India’s strong women contingent this time:
Bhavani Devi, Fencing
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRgcjpvs052/
Aditi Ashok, Golf
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQtNB9hNf7I/
Pranati Nayak, Gymnastics
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRgoZP4hRZN/
Mirabai Chanu, Weightlifting
https://www.instagram.com/p/CReDKvQMDQI/
PV Sindhu, Badminton
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPqglW6D-Ez/
MC Marry Kom, Boxing
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRN5lIaDY62/
Deepika Kumari, Archery
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRnxtK-AjzP/
Maana Patel, Swimming
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRipq-SghRM/