New open category for trans swimmers to debut at Berlin World Cup
The event will be held from October 6 to 8 of this year and will be the venue for the debut of the category that will allow the competition of people according to their reassigned sexual condition.
The Swimming World Cup in Berlin (Germany), which will take place from October 6 to 8 this year, will be the event where the new "open category" of competition aimed at the participation of transgender swimmers will be released.
The milestone – considered a pilot project – is the result of constant attempts by World Aquatics – the organization that regulates international competitions in water sports – to place trans competitors in a category according to their reassigned sexual condition.
Last year, the organization banned trans people from participating in the international women's competition and announced the creation of the "open category" that will soon be inaugurated in Berlin. World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam said in a statement:
Participant eligibility
The organization released some details about the new competition. One of them is that the category will feature 50 and 100 meter races in all styles that will be held in 'Olympic size' pools (50 meters) "following international standards."
As for eligibility, for now it is known that "swimmers must be affiliated with a national federation and will be given the flexibility to participate individually, for their club, team or as members of the national federation."
World Aquatics said it will provide further details on the requirements needed to participate in due time.