Tokyo 2020: The Most Inclusive Olympic Games to Date

Tokyo 2020 has been pinned as the most inclusive Olympic Games ever for a number of things. Let’s unpack that!

With over 160 LGBTQ athletes, women taking a stand against sexualization, celebrities supporting fined athletes, and even a mariachi “grito” before a race, the sports event of the Summer is bound to be one for the books. Here are some top moments we’re keeping an eye out for.

• Mexican diver Diego Balleza chanting a mariachi “ajúa” before his performance  

Balleza donned his mariachi hat with the Mexican flag colors and gave a proud shout at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. The Mexican athlete shared a video on social media where he’s seen ready to perform and possibly listening to mariachis in the background. “Let Tokyo hear the Mexican cry,” Diego wrote on his social networks.

https://twitter.com/diegoballezaisa/status/1418220497616052238

• Tom Daley tells young LGBT people: You can achieve anything

English diver Tom Daley finally hung his first Olympic gold, along with Matty Lee, on the platform from 10 meters of Tokyo-2020. 

But beyond sports, this athlete is known worldwide for his activism for the LGBTQ community.

“I feel very fortunate to be able to be who I am openly and without worry. I hope that one day all athletes from the Commonwealth countries can be free to compete also by being openly the people that they are,” he wrote on Twitter. A gesture he also shares with more than 2,100,000 followers on Instagram and almost 900,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel.

• P!ink is not having it! The pop star pays fines for athletes

The American singer Pink offered to pay the fine received by the Norwegian women’s beach handball team after they decided to wear shorts instead of bikinis to play.

Pink noted that she was proud of the players who protested the sexist “uniform” rules.

“The European handball federation should be fined. Good for you women. I will be happy to pay your fines for you. Keep it up, ”he said on his Twitter account on Saturday.

• Germany’s female gymnasts taking a stand against the sexualization of women

By wearing unitards instead of the common bikini-cut leotards during their competition on Sunday, the Germany team wore suits that cover the legs all the way to the ankle in contrast with the high-cut leotards worn usually by gymnasts at the Olympics.

In other news… Tokyo 2020 is also a first for a few countries.

• The Philippines wins its first Olympic gold medal

Weightlifter Hidilyn Díaz made history by winning the women’s 55-kilogram category at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Their victory marks the first time the Philippines has won an Olympic gold medal. Diaz also set an Olympic record for two successful lifts with a combined total weight of 224 kilograms. The country has been making unsuccessful attempts for nearly 100 years. ¡Bravo!