The International Olympic Committee has set up four working groups, including one for the protection of women’s sport, in its bid to reshape the Olympic Games under new president Kirsty Coventry.
Working groups to review the Olympic programme, the Youth Olympic Games and commercial partnerships and marketing have also been established.
Coventry, who became the first female IOC president in March, had promised to create a working group for women’s sports, saying the organisation must “play a leading role” in discussions on gender eligibility.
The IOC said the working group will “look at how we can best protect the female category”.
However, while naming the members of the other three groups, it declined to say who would be on the Protection of the Female Category Working Group.
“The names of the members of the working group will remain confidential for now to protect the integrity of the group and its work”.
The IOC has previously left gender regulations to the governing bodies of individual sports rather than applying a universal approach.
A growing number of sports federations have barred athletes who have undergone male puberty from competing in elite female competition.
In February, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that prevents transgender women from competing in female categories.
He specified the order would include the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, adding he will deny visas for transgender athletes trying to visit America to compete at the LA Games.
Coventry said the groups “will allow us to meet deadlines, and bring important technical expertise to these complex and important discussions, while realigning where we feel that it is necessary to strengthen our movement”.
The Zimbabwean added: “These groups will receive constant feedback to make sure that everybody is fully aligned and that all recommendations are fully integrated”.
The IOC said the Olympic programme working group will explore the relevance of the disciplines at the Games as well as the scope of integrating new sports into it.
“It will also consider the suggestion that traditional summer or winter sports could cross over, the timing of the Games, and the sports calendar”, it said.
Nadiya Bychkova, the Mirror’s strict star, talks about being taken to a hospital by ambulance and worries that her career may be over.
Nadiya pictured moments after falling into rehaals with her horror.
Strictly Come Dancing star Nadiya Bychkova feared she was paralysed after a horror fall in rehearsals for the new series.
The 36-year-old has spoken for the first time about the accident, which resulted in her being rushed to hospital by ambulance last month.
She remarked, “It was a very frightening moment. I was sitting up on a chair and a table in heels while preparing for a group dance, and soon after that, I was in pain on my back and unsure of what was happening. Your thoughts can be so many different things. I was incredibly concerned because I couldn’t move and couldn’t feel my left leg.
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Nadiya Bychkova is a patient in a hospital trolley.
Nadiya was captured in a photo of her immediately following the accident, with her head restrained, and another image showed her immobilized in a hospital corridor.
She claimed that while we waited for a scan, I was clung to a trolley for hours and told to stay put. I couldn’t look up because my head was strapped in. You become concerned when you realize how awful it is. I was considering whether my series or even my dancing career would be over. There were many tears and I had time to reflect on everything.
Ukrainian Nadiya endured agonizing waits while a scan revealed the extent of her spine damage. She recalled that the hospital’s staff was outstanding, and that it was her biggest source of comfort when I learned there was no permanent damage.
Incredibly, Nadiya was able to get back to work ahead of the new BBC series. This week, she attended the premiere of the new Downton Abbey film, where she dazzled in a stunning white gown.
Stunning: Nadiya Bychkova was speaking at the Downton Abbey premiere(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireIma)
Speaking to the Mirror at the event, she added: “I was a bit battered and bruised but nothing a few trips to the physio couldn’t solve… within a week I was back on the dancefloor.”
Looking back on the incident, Nadiya has nothing but praise for her colleagues on the BBC show. She said: “The Strictly crew were absolutely amazing. The medical team looked after me and kept me stable and warm while we waited for the ambulance.”
Fellow dancer Carlos Gu got a special mention for trying to keep her spirits up with an unusual song choice as they waited for the ambulance to arrive. “Carlos has a song for every occasion but I’m not sure his decision to sing me Killing Me Softly was helping…it was hilarious,” Nadiya laughed. “I couldn’t laugh because of the pain so I cried but it was beautiful.
He changed to “I Will Survive,” which delivered a much more encouraging message and kept me going. Nadiya responded, “I’m OK. I’m asked how she was doing right now. Feeling better than it has ever been. Fighting ready for a fantastic series.
Strictly’s return comes amid controversy, including allegations of bullying and drug use. When asked about the various scandals, Nadiya responded, “Strictly is always in the headlines, and this year is no different.
“We are all focused on performing the job that is possible,” he said. This is my ninth year, so I’m always so grateful to be a part of the biggest television program. She continued, “I would love to make it a decade next year, but my main focus will be making the 2025 edition of the show, which will feature a host of incredible celebrities and be the best one yet.”
The Mirror last month broke the news of Nadiya’s fall after she was pictured leaving the rehearsal studios in an ambulance. An insider said at the time: “It looked pretty nasty and no one was taking any chances. The crew rushed into action and she was stretchered out.”
According to a source close to Strict, “Nadiya was taken to the hospital for checks and is receiving full support from medical and welfare teams as a precaution following a fall during rehearsals.” The Strictly team is in close communication with Nadiya as rehearsals continue. When the popular BBC show returns later this month, who will Nadiya be paired with this year?
Last year, she teamed up with swimmer Tom Dean, who was the first celebrity voted off the show. Her best place finish was with TV journalist Dan Walker, when they came fifth in 2021.
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Celebrities taking part this year include YouTube star George Clarke, EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, Love Island winner Dani Dyer, Gladiator Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Doctor Who actress Alex Kingston and former Chelsea footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Two new professional dancers, US-born Alexis Warr and Australian Julian Caillon, are also joining the show. Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman return as hosts with Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Shirley Ballas on the judges’ panel.
