Tokyo Games Become First Gender-Equal Olympics
2021-07-23
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1Grace Luczak had left competitive rowing and taken a job.
2 But a move toward gender equity at the Tokyo Olympic Games brought her back into the boat.
3This year, a woman's rowing event was added to make sure that there is an equal number of men's and women's sports at the Olympics.
4That change meant four additional spots on the U.S. team and a place for Luczak.
5The rower said it was hard to make the decision to go back to the sport and leave her job for a year.
6She did not think it was possible until more seats were added.
7"There are four more seats," Luczak said.
8"Four. And it's the first gender-equal Olympics. How can you not try?"
9Most of the public attention goes to big sports like gymnastics, swimming and track and field.
10But women from smaller sports that are less popular are now being recognized and given a chance to compete in the Olympics.
11The International Olympic Committee, or IOC, added 18 new events to the Tokyo Games in a push toward gender equity.
12There are an equal number of women and men for every sport, aside from baseball and softball because of different team sizes.
13The IOC said 49 percent of athletes in Tokyo are women.
14That is up from 45 percent at the last Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
15The IOC said that when women began competing in the 1900 Paris Olympics, there were only 22 out of 997 total athletes.
16"Tokyo 2020 is predicted to be the most gender equal yet with female participation," the IOC said.
17Closing the gender difference is an important issue for many women.
18Concerns about equity got attention at this year's NCAA college basketball championship.
19People on social media became upset when images showed how the women's teams had less equipment than men's teams.
20The new chances for women at the Olympics come in several sports.
21In water polo, two additional teams were added, for a total of 10.
22Britain is sending more women than men to the Olympics for the first time.
23Gains for women in many cases meant fewer spots for men.
24Boxing has 100 women competing in five weight groups.
25That is an increase from 36 women in three weight groups at the Games in Rio de Janeiro.
26Two men's groups were lost.
27Weightlifting this year is equal at seven teams for both men and women.
28But that was possible only by dropping one men's team.
29Women's canoeing was added.
30Two men's canoeing events were dropped.
31Not every addition hurt men's sports.
32Swimming added the 1,500-meter freestyle for women.
33But the men's 800 freestyle swim was brought back for the first time since 1904.
34This year, there will be the first mixed gender relay race.
35Five new sports were added this year: baseball, softball, karate, skateboarding, sports climbing and surfing.
36The IOC made sure to have equal numbers of men and women.
37Luczak, now 32, knows that a male teammate's sport was lost for her to be able to compete.
38Her four-person rowing event replaces the same event for men.
39"It's never fun seeing people find out their opportunity is gone," Luczak said.
40"But in creating an equal number of opportunities, it shows there is a pathway for female athletes."
41I'm Dan Novak.
1Grace Luczak had left competitive rowing and taken a job. But a move toward gender equity at the Tokyo Olympic Games brought her back into the boat. 2This year, a woman's rowing event was added to make sure that there is an equal number of men's and women's sports at the Olympics. That change meant four additional spots on the U.S. team and a place for Luczak. 3The rower said it was hard to make the decision to go back to the sport and leave her job for a year. She did not think it was possible until more seats were added. 4"There are four more seats," Luczak said. "Four. And it's the first gender-equal Olympics. How can you not try?" 5Most of the public attention goes to big sports like gymnastics, swimming and track and field. But women from smaller sports that are less popular are now being recognized and given a chance to compete in the Olympics. 6The International Olympic Committee, or IOC, added 18 new events to the Tokyo Games in a push toward gender equity. There are an equal number of women and men for every sport, aside from baseball and softball because of different team sizes. 7The IOC said 49 percent of athletes in Tokyo are women. That is up from 45 percent at the last Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The IOC said that when women began competing in the 1900 Paris Olympics, there were only 22 out of 997 total athletes. 8"Tokyo 2020 is predicted to be the most gender equal yet with female participation," the IOC said. 9Closing the gender difference is an important issue for many women. Concerns about equity got attention at this year's NCAA college basketball championship. People on social media became upset when images showed how the women's teams had less equipment than men's teams. 10The new chances for women at the Olympics come in several sports. In water polo, two additional teams were added, for a total of 10. Britain is sending more women than men to the Olympics for the first time. 11Gains for women in many cases meant fewer spots for men. Boxing has 100 women competing in five weight groups. That is an increase from 36 women in three weight groups at the Games in Rio de Janeiro. Two men's groups were lost. 12Weightlifting this year is equal at seven teams for both men and women. But that was possible only by dropping one men's team. Women's canoeing was added. Two men's canoeing events were dropped. 13Not every addition hurt men's sports. Swimming added the 1,500-meter freestyle for women. But the men's 800 freestyle swim was brought back for the first time since 1904. This year, there will be the first mixed gender relay race. 14Five new sports were added this year: baseball, softball, karate, skateboarding, sports climbing and surfing. The IOC made sure to have equal numbers of men and women. 15Luczak, now 32, knows that a male teammate's sport was lost for her to be able to compete. Her four-person rowing event replaces the same event for men. 16"It's never fun seeing people find out their opportunity is gone," Luczak said. "But in creating an equal number of opportunities, it shows there is a pathway for female athletes." 17I'm Dan Novak. 18Jenna Fryer reported this story for The Associated Press. Dan Novak adapted for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 19____________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21gender -n. the state of being either female or male 22equity - n. fairness or justice in the way people are treated 23participate - v. to be involved with others in doing something : to take part in an activity or event with others 24relay -n. a race between teams in which team members run, swim or compete in different parts of the race 25opportunity- n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done