Cultural Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt has expressed strong criticism of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for their decision to permit two boxers to compete in the women’s category at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. The minister argues that this creates an “unfair competition.” The two boxers, Imane Khelif from Algeria and Lin Yu-ting from Taiwan, have previously been the subject of discussions regarding their gender, as they have both X and Y chromosomes, according to the International Boxing Association (IBA).

The IOC approved the participation of these two boxers based on a principle of gender identification determined by passports, rather than biological gender tests or testosterone levels. Engel-Schmidt finds this problematic, emphasizing that there should be clear boundaries regarding where inclusion begins and ends, even within the realm of sports. While he acknowledges the importance of diversity and inclusivity, he asserts that the limits of inclusion must be well-defined to ensure fair competition.

In Denmark, sports organizations are also facing similar challenges. The Danish Football Association (DBU) is working on implementing a “self-identification principle,” which would allow players to participate in the gender category they identify with, without requiring biological gender tests. Ask Vest Christiansen from Aarhus University points out that the DBU may encounter the same challenges as the IOC if they pursue this course of action.

B.T., a Danish news outlet, was unable to obtain a deeper comment from the cultural minister regarding how this principle will be managed within Danish football. In a written response, Engel-Schmidt highlighted the difference between elite sports and grassroots sports, as well as the significance of different sports federations’ ability to establish meaningful regulations for their respective disciplines.

### Tags
– International Sports
– Gender Inclusivity
– Olympic Games
– Denmark
– Sports Regulation