Team GB To Send More Women Than Men To Tokyo 2020
Team GB will make history by sending more women than men to a Summer Games for the first time, despite the IOC announcing it will now take place behind closed doors.
Some 376 athletes – and a further 22 reserve athletes – will compete across 26 sports at the Games, with 201 women and 175 men as part of the cohort of Olympians.
Team GB says this is ‘thanks to a combination of impressive qualification performances’, as well as an increase in the number of female events at the Games.
While it is a first at a Summer Games, the 1932 Winter Olympics did see Team GB send more women than men. The squad for the Games consisted of just four athletes – all of them women, and all of them figure skaters.
“After five years of hard work, our team for Tokyo 2020 is now complete,” said Mark England, Team GB’s Chef de Mission.
“We have a strong squad of athletes ready to do their country proud and it’s great to welcome our largest travelling British Olympic team ever.
“I am also delighted we will be taking more women than men to a summer Olympic Games. It is a first for Team GB in its 125-year history – 2021 is truly the year of the female Olympian.”
Meanwhile, the news comes as the city of Tokyo has announced a new state of emergency due to rising coronavirus case numbers.
Fans will not be allowed into venues for the rescheduled Games, despite organisers outlining plans for up to 10,000 Japan-based fans to be allowed into venues. However the joint statement from the two organisations also made it clear that this was subject to any future emergency moves from the authorities to limit the spread of the virus.
“It is regrettable that we are delivering the Games in a very limited format, facing the spread of coronavirus infections,” said Seiko Hashimoto Tokyo 2020 President.
“I am sorry for those who purchased tickets.”
Meanwhile, the Games will go ahead behind closed doors,
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