Milano Cortina 2026: A New Dawn for Transgender Athletes?

The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics spotlight the contentious issue of transgender athletes in women's sports. With no universal rule, the International Olympic Committee is preparing new guidelines. While some sports allow transgender participation, others impose restrictions, creating a complex landscape for athletes like Elis Lundholm, a Swedish mogul skier.

The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics kick off on Friday, assembling top athletes globally in a grand winter sports spectacle. This year's event highlights the last implementation of current fragmented regulations for transgender athlete eligibility in women's categories.

The International Olympic Committee is set to release universal guidelines aimed at safeguarding women's sport, as controversy around transgender athletes in elite sports gathers momentum. Currently, sporting authorities wrestle with preserving women's categories while promoting inclusive competition free of discrimination.

While some advocate groups decry exclusion as discriminatory, critics argue that male puberty imparts an unfair physical advantage. The upcoming IOC rules aim to offer a clearer path amid the ongoing debate.

(With inputs from agencies.)