Juan Antonio Samaranch, a candidate for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee, aims to advocate for a ruling on the involvement of transgender athletes in sports before the Milano-Cortina winter Olympics next year, should he be elected.
Such a decision would provide clarity for the organizers of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, especially following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent directive to prohibit transgender girls and women from participating in female sports. He stated that transgender athletes would not be permitted to compete in the LA 2028 Games.
Currently, transgender athletes can participate in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, contingent upon approval from their respective sports federations.
Samaranch, one of seven individuals vying for this influential role in global sports, expressed in a Reuters interview that if he prevails in the March 20 IOC election, he would take swift action to prevent the Olympics from being marred by a gender controversy, similar to the situation that arose during last year’s Paris Olympics.
“We should make every effort to have a decision reached before the Milano-Cortina Games. I believe it is essential that we try. The timeframe is quite limited, but it is indeed present,” Samaranch remarked.
As an IOC vice president, he stressed the importance of the Olympic organization avoiding a recurrence of the gender issue witnessed at the Paris Games involving two female boxers, both of whom obtained gold medals, which captured international attention and underscored the absence of a uniform regulation.
“We witnessed that Paris, among the most successful Games ever, was overshadowed by this issue,” Samaranch stated.
In 2021, the IOC instructed international federations to create their own regulations regarding transgender athletes’ participation. Samaranch asserted that the IOC now needs to take the initiative.
“The 2021 decision was a wise move, but it has proven insufficient. Paris showed that there is still a heightened concern regarding this issue, and there is a widespread consensus… for the IOC to be a leader in the sports world as well as on this matter.”
REGARDING TRUMP SUPPORT
Samaranch also expressed confidence in receiving Trump’s backing for the LA 2028 Games, describing the U.S. President as a long-standing supporter of the Olympics.
“The United States has consistently shown… that they are very, very enthusiastic about the Olympic Games,” Samaranch commented.
“I believe that the goals of the organizing committee, the federal administration, the IOC, and the Olympic community are very much aligned.”
“The United States will never pass up such an opportunity to once again showcase their capabilities to the world,” Samaranch added.
The Spaniard is contesting the IOC presidency alongside World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, Olympic swimming champion Kirsty Coventry, who serves as Zimbabwe’s sports minister, and International Cycling Federation president David Lappartient.
Completing the list of candidates are Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan, International Gymnastics Federation president Morinari Watanabe, and Olympic newcomer and billionaire Johan Eliasch, leader of the International Ski Federation.
