The Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Historic milestones towards full gender equality

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are shaping up to be a historic milestone in the world of sports with the promise of being the Games of total gender parity. With a perfect balance between men and women, 5,250 athletes of each gender will participate in this edition, surpassing the near parity achieved in Tokyo 2020. The announcement made by the International Olympic Committee has been received with enthusiasm and celebration, highlighting the IOC's commitment to gender equality in sports. The president of the organization, Thomas Bach, has described this achievement as one of the most important moments in the history of women in the Olympic Games and in sports in general. Over the years, the Olympic Movement has worked tirelessly to increase the participation of female athletes in the Games, moving from 2.2% in Paris 1900 to achieving total parity in Paris 2024. This continuous progress reflects a strong commitment to gender equity in sports. Regarding the distribution by sports disciplines, 28 out of the 32 sports in competition will have total gender parity. In addition, of the 309 scheduled events, 152 will be for women, 157 for men, and 20 mixed, highlighting the effort to balance the coverage and visibility of women's events. A concrete example of this progress is the scheduling of the women's marathon as the main event on the closing day of the Games, relegating the men's marathon to a secondary position. This symbolic decision reflects a paradigm shift towards greater visibility and recognition of women's sports in the Olympic sphere. Paris 2024 is thus presented as a unique opportunity to celebrate gender equality in sports and to continue advancing towards a more inclusive and equitable world. With the promise of being the Games of total parity, this edition will mark a before and after in the history of the Olympic Games, consolidating the Olympic Movement's commitment to equality and diversity.