Introduction to the World Athletics Championships
The World Athletics Championships, one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, began on Saturday in the Japanese capital, Tokyo. Tens of thousands of spectators gathered in the city’s national stadium to observe the last round of the opening round of 35 km before the other competitions of the day. The championships, which ran until September 21, take place four years after the 2020 Olympic Games were organized under pandemic conditions, which meant that the fans were prohibited from venues to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Return of Controversial Gender Tests
Before the event, the World Athletics Federation resumed a commitment to athletes who wanted to compete in the women’s category to carry out a gender test to determine their gender. On Friday, it was said that about 95% of the athletes in Tokyo had completed the Sry test to recognize a "y" chromosome that was found in men and thus maintained a deadline on September 1st. The test is viewed by many as an unreliable indicator of femininity, since the "Y" chromosome can be present in women without giving them a male physiological advantage.
Controversy Surrounding the Tests
Coe has defended the Federation’s policy and said that the test had promoted the "protection and promotion of the integrity of women’s sports". However, critics of the screening see it as a spill from the ongoing "cultural wars", especially with many right-wing numbers that oppose an energetic inclusion of transgender athletes who identify as women in women’s sports. For reasons of confidentiality, it is unclear whether athletes are not justified due to the test for women’s events. In a sign of how controversial the matter is, the athletes from France had to carry out the test at foreign training locations, since their country banned this type of screening for non-medical purposes.
The Championships
Around 35,000 spectators were on the opening day at the National Stadium, which means that the event location was only half full. However, several other sessions are fully booked. The racing walk was won by Evan Dunfee from Canada, followed by Spanish defending champion Maria Perez. The Japanese fans were enthusiastic about the bronze success of their compatriot Hayato Katsuki, who entered the stadium for a huge roar of the crowd. The rest of the day devoted to field events such as discus and shot.
Conclusion
Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics, described the championship on Friday as "the biggest sporting event of the year at a distance". Athletes from all over the world compete in Tokyo, and the event is expected to continue until September 21. Despite the controversy surrounding the gender tests, the championships are expected to be an exciting and highly competitive event, with many talented athletes vying for top honors.
