INTRODUCTION: With the revival of the Olympic Games (OG) in 1896, the IOC opposed allowing women to compete. However, over time, women were admitted to competitions due to socio-cultural influences (including strong influence of feminist organizations) [1]. Nowadays the OG have become one of the biggest global platforms for advancing gender equality in sport (after launching the Gender Equality Review Project in 2017) [2], but some current developments need to be critically discussed. The aim of this study was to discuss the impact of IOC policies on the development of womens sports in the world and the problems that arise in this regard. METHODS: All data from the Gender equality & inclusion report of the IOC [2] were analysed. RESULTS: By the 2020 OG in Tokyo, some of the planned actions of the Gender Equality Review Project have already been implemented. In fact, women made up 48% of athletes, 13% of coaches, 38% of international technical officials, 20% of chefs de mission, 38% of IOC members, 33% of the IOC Executive Board, 37% of IOC commission chairs, and 48% of IOC commission members. The increasing number of female athletes can be explained mainly by the introduction of womens competitions in traditional male sports. That leads to active development of such sports for women around the world and could lead to significant problems with their health and social adaptation in future. For the first time, the IOC has faced the problem of admitting transgender athletes to the OG, and the debate over the issue of hyperandrogenism in sport continues. CONCLUSION: The IOC is committed to ensuring gender equality by 2024, not just among athletes, but also among coaches, support staff, staff and management of the IOC, NOCs, and sports federations. However, IOC should consider firstly the medical-biological, social and aesthetic aspects of sport, values of the ideals of Olympism [3]. The IOC therefore needs to consider three main aspects: i) to develop traditional womens competitions (at the moment only 2 female sports: artistic swimming and rhythmic gymnastics with 2 medals events each) instead of introducing more events for women in traditionally mens competitions (e.g. 5 medal events in female boxing); ii) to pay attention to threats for the health of female athletes and their subsequent adaptation; iii) to develop recommendations for the athletes with hyperandrogenism and transgender athletes to make competitive conditions equal for all women. In general, the IOC is facing the difficult task of ensuring women`s rights and the need to eliminate discrimination while respecting the principles and ideals of the Olympic Movement.
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