An International Swimming competition for transgender athletes will be held in October.

The International Swimming Federation announced on Saturday (Oct. 16) that it will introduce an ‘open category’ at the 2023 World Cup in Berlin, Germany, from Oct. 6-8. Swimmers of all genders and multiple identities will be able to compete. It will demonstrate the federation’s commitment to inclusion.”

In Berlin, the open category events for transgender swimmers will include the 50 meters and 100 meters of each of the following strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.

“The number of events in the open category could be further expanded,” the federation said.

At its Extraordinary General Assembly during the Budapest World Championships last year, FINA decided that only transgender athletes who had surgery before the age of 12 would be allowed to compete in women’s events at international level.

But in July of this year, during the World Championships in Fukuoka, it was decided to create a separate category for transgender athletes to compete in.

“Athletes who are registered with their national federation can compete in the open category as individuals, clubs or national federations,” the federation explained. Specific rules will be announced at a later date, it added.

FINA President Hussein Al Musallam said: “We have worked with a team of experts to create the Open category. We are grateful to all those who have helped us to provide this opportunity.”

Kai Morgenrot, Vice President of the German Swimming Federation, said: “We are proud to be able to host an event where all swimmers can compete without barriers. Berlin, a hub of diversity and inclusion, is the perfect place to launch such a progressive project.” 파워볼사이트