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.
The next World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2023 event in Berlin, scheduled for 6-8 October, will include the debut of the World Aquatics open category. This pioneering pilot project highlights the organization's unwavering commitment to inclusion, welcoming swimmers of all sexes and gender identities.
🔵OPEN CATEGORY DEBUTS AT THE BERLIN SWIMMING WORLD CUP 2023.
The open category will spotlight races in the 50m and 100m distances across all strokes, with the possibility of introducing additional events 👇https://t.co/tENItvWJFR
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) August 16, 2023
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:
When World Aquatics instituted its Eligibility Policy for the men's and women's competition categories, we committed to exploring the creation of an open category. True to our word, a team of experts has worked diligently to make this a reality. I would like to thank all those who have helped World Aquatics provide this opportunity.
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.
