Know Differences, Show Differences

The Tokyo 2020 Games Vision will be the most innovative in history.

Strive for your personal best

Unity in Diversity

Connecting to tomorrow

This version of the games has sustainability all over it. It starts from advertising "Be better together" through an ESG policy that is declared and measured, to actual actions in diversity, inclusion and gender equality. Let's take a look.

Gender Equality

The Olympics do not have a good track record when it comes to gender equality. At the end of the 19th century, when it was founded, the modern Olympic movement deliberately excluded women, arguing that it would be impractical, uninteresting, unaesthetic and improper. At the 1900 Paris Olympics, women were allowed to compete, but they were only 22 out of 997 competitors and were restricted to a select number of five “ladies” events: tennis, sailing, croquet, equestrian and golf.

The Tokyo Games will feature the most female athletes at an Olympics; with 48.8% of competitors are women. Exhibiting a rise from 45% at Rio and 44.2% at London. Paralympic games also feature a higher percentile of women.

Putting action to words is what makes a difference.

· New mixed gender competitions for singles or relay include athletics, swimming, table tennis and triathlon.

• New sports feature mixed gender events such as skateboarding, surfing, sport-climbing and karate.

• More events are open to women, from the 1,500m freestyle to boxing, canoe, rowing and shooting.

• All countries are expected to have at least one female and one male athlete in their teams. All are encouraged to have both gender representatives carry their country’s flag at the opening ceremony.

• Most importantly, women’s events will also be given more visibility in terms of what is shown when it is shown and promoted on Olympic broadcasts.

Women also make up significant proportions of the IOC organization. IOC membership is 37.5% female, the executive board is 33.3% female, IOC commissions are 47.8% female, and more. Whoever encouraging these numbers are, they are yet to be improved.

As part of the no-harassment policy, In February this year, the head of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee, Yoshiro Mori, resigned after complaining to a Japanese Olympic Committee meeting that women talk too much. He was replaced by a woman.

In March, Tokyo’s creative director, Hiroshi Sasaki, resigned after suggesting a female performer could be an “Olympig”.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) is being incorporated into all aspects of Games planning and operations. To this end, three principles were implemented to ensure incorporation of the Games Vision.

• Tokyo 2020 leads Japan when it comes to the diversity of the organization. The Japanese employees come from more than 370 different companies. As of January 2020, Tokyo 2020 employs staff from 28 different countries.

• Different people with diverse needs will participate as spectators, athletes, staff and stakeholders. Staff members with impairments are invited to speak at training sessions, where they share their experience, the physical barriers and challenges they face and how they approach D&I in the organisation.

• Initiatives for LGBT and other sexual minorities include discussions on LGBT issues, as well as various initiatives aimed at further deepening the understanding of staff on related issues. Now, all new staff members have the option to take D&I courses online.

With the entire world is looking, British gold medalist Tom Delay sat in the audience and knitted. If the LGBTQ was a country, it would be graded as 14th in the world. This is a direct result of D&I policies, this is a direct result of saying everyone and everything is acceptable.

Governance

Governance is in the IOC's agenda for over two decades. As most of the activities are outsourced, this issue can have an outreaching influence on all stake holders. Governance was address through four principles for Sustainable Sourcing that implies the concept of transparency and due diligence, the most important being compliance of the entire supply chain to the sourcing and effective use of resources.

Environmental

Environmental goals have been defined and published. From clean and renewable energy, reduction of carbon emissions, promoting the 3Rs and upcycling waste to produce podiums and medals through circular economy. All transportation within the Olympic village is done using hydrogen powered electrical vehicles.

This is a great example of how organizations can change and influence change in their area of expertise. Combining an innovative mindset with a sustainable mindset has made these Olympic games extra special. I applaud the IOC and the Tokyo organizing committee for their commitment to change

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