Taking pride in equality, diversity and inclusion
Unity in diversity was a core concept of Tokyo 2020, which saw further advances in gender equality, diversity and inclusion, all of which are key priorities for the Olympic Movement.
Tokyo 2020 was viewed as an opportunity to create a more inclusive society in the host city and Japan in general, a society in which people are respected regardless of their age, gender, nationality, sexuality, cultural differences and whether they have a disability or not.
A series of initiatives and measures informed by the spirit of the Olympic Charter were implemented with a view to making this a reality. These included the introduction of the Tokyo Partnership Oath System in November 2022, which certified civil partnerships filed by LGBTQ couples, and an ordinance promoting understanding of and prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities.
The number of people with disabilities employed by the private sector in Tokyo rose from 141,000 in 2012 to 228,000 in 2022. Steps were also taken to create a more accessible, “barrier-free” transport environment in the Japanese capital through inclusive design initiatives. For example, stairs were eliminated by installing lifts at 97 per cent of rail stations in Tokyo and a QR-code guidance system for the blind and visually impaired was introduced at stations. Meanwhile, the number of accessible guestrooms in the city rose from 460 in 2018 to 3,200 in 2021.
Tokyo 2020 also brought about increased awareness of the importance of sign language and the need to develop the expertise of sign language interpreters.
Set up by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) to put the spirit of the Olympic Charter into practice, the Human Rights Festa and the Tokyo Metropolitan Human Rights Plaza both sought to raise awareness and educate younger generations on human rights through symposiums, exhibitions, seminars and outreach activities. Both worked with local authorities, schools and companies to get their message across and increase understanding.
In addition, strides have been made in giving women a more prominent place in Japanese society, through strategic initiatives such as the Tokyo Women’s Empowerment Award and the creation of the Tokyo Discussion for Women’s Empowerment. There has been increased female participation in decision-making, with the TMG board itself providing an example of this: as of August 2022, the number of women sitting on it had risen to 40.7 per cent. Men have been urged to play their part as well and change their mindsets by becoming more involved in housework and bringing up children.
The Organising Committee continued to work on gender equality after the Games, compiling reports that highlight the progress and shortcomings on gender equality actions in relation to 25 recommendations made in the IOC’s Gender Equality Report, which pre-dated the Games.
The next generation are getting the message too. A survey of 2,297 state schools and kindergartens conducted in August and September 2021 showed that 92 per cent of the children attending them gained an understanding of people with disabilities and 80 per cent an appreciation of the outside world.
A shining example of inclusiveness is provided by Tokyo Pride House. It has remained open since the Games and in June 2022 signed an agreement with the Japanese Olympic Committee allowing it to continue its plans to promote inclusiveness across sport nationwide.
Providing a permanent safe space for LGBTQ youth, Tokyo Pride House creates hospitality spaces, hosts events, and produces a wide range of content to raise awareness of LGBTQ issues. It works with the corporate world, individual activists and organisations in doing so and provides information on LGBTQ topics, teaches visitors about the challenges faced by the community it represents and the solutions available to them, and runs sporting events open to local people and visitors alike.
Tokyo 2020 was the most gender-balanced Olympic Games up to that time, with women accounting for 48.8 percent of the total number of athletes and 89 per cent of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) athlete delegations at the Opening Ceremony, who were led into the Olympic Stadium by a woman and a man. Tokyo 2020 also featured 18 mixed-gender events. Among the new mixed-gender events were judo, table tennis, swimming, athletics, shooting, archery and triathlon.