InsideOUT Kōaro is deeply concerned by the recent decision by the International Olympic Committee to exclude transgender women from competing in the women’s category at future Olympic Games.
Sport holds a powerful place in our communities. It is a space where young people build confidence, teamwork, and connection. For rainbow young people, for transgender rangatahi, seeing themselves reflected in sport can be life-affirming.
Policies like this send a message that some young people do not belong. That message has real-world impacts. We know that transgender young people already face significant barriers to participation in sport, alongside higher rates of isolation and poor mental health outcomes.
The IOC has framed this decision around fairness and safety in elite competition. We acknowledge that conversations about safety, fairness and equity in sport are complex and evolving. However, solutions must not come at the expense of dignity, inclusion, and human rights.
There are currently very few transgender athletes competing at elite Olympic level, yet decisions like this have wide-reaching impacts far beyond high-performance sport. They shape how inclusion is understood and practised across schools, clubs, and communities.
InsideOUT Kōaro stands for environments where rainbow young people are supported to thrive fully and safely in all aspects of life, including sport. We advocate for approaches that uphold mana, recognise diversity, and centre the wellbeing of all young people.
Women in Sport Aotearoa are working with InsideOUT on a toolkit to fill the policy and guidance gap for sport in Aotearoa. We call for continued dialogue and policy development that includes youth voices, transgender voices, and is grounded in evidence. We welcome engagement with any school or sporting organisation ready to reflect Aotearoa’s commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, fairness, and wellbeing.