Recent reports indicate that under the directives of the federal government, groups such as transgender athletes and Cuban athletes are under significant pressure from policies related to President Donald Trump. Many athletes have been denied visas and are unable to enter the United States to participate in competitions. This situation seriously endangers the alignment of the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics with the Olympic Charter.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) states clearly in its seven fundamental principles: "The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of participating in sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play." These lofty declarations have evolved over the years from the original texts of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the Olympic Movement. Throughout the 130-year history of the IOC, these principles have been tested numerous times and often struggled to fully meet the standards. However, as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics approach, under the close scrutiny of Trump's extremely conservative government and his tough personal agenda, these principles seem to be facing an unprecedented severe threat, and the Los Angeles Olympics are likely to become a crucial turning point.
Firstly, an executive order signed in February this year prohibits transgender women from participating in women's events. This measure has recently received support from several candidates vying for the position of IOC president, including Kirsty Coventry, the representative from Zimbabwe, and Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, who have been particularly vocal in "defending women's sports." After the president quickly signed the executive order, the government apparently took a series of rapid bureaucratic actions. Ironically, this government, which has long advocated for the complete abolition of what it deems unnecessary red tape, has been quick to act in this case. According to a report in The New York Times last week, the US government has started instructing consular officers around the world to reject visa applications from transgender athletes for participation in sports events, "while also opening the door to lifetime visa bans for applicants judged to have 'misrepresented' their gender on their applications."
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President Donald Trump once rallied his relevant personnel in advance and declared: "We will not allow this absurd issue to tarnish the Olympics and the Paralympics." He also hinted at the implementation of visa restrictions. Trump's commonly used tough tactics seem to be taking effect, as Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), publicly advocated for a science-based approach this week. In an interview with the BBC, he said: "Protecting women's events is our top priority. I don't believe there is a single rule that applies to all sports. Each sport has its own unique requirements." Before insisting on a fact-based approach to the visa ban for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, he also mentioned: "We need to evaluate these measures and study how to deal with any possible decisions that may arise."
Although the issue of transgender athletes' participation has rarely been a controversial focus in the history of the Olympics since they were first allowed to compete about twenty years ago, the more complex topic of gender eligibility for participation remains a highly concerned and unresolved issue. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, a gender controversy erupted in boxing competitions, and some political figures mistakenly described it as a transgender issue. The IOC quickly pointed out that this was a misunderstanding. Therefore, it is not surprising that the new restrictive measures implemented by the Trump government against transgender athletes and foreign athletes from so-called "unwelcome" countries are starting to have an impact.
David J. Bier, the associate director for immigration studies at the Cato Institute, said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times last month: "The Trump administration did not prioritize visa processing during its first term. This indeed led to a slowdown in visa processing and the cancellation of the requirement for expedited visa processing. So I can't imagine a situation where there will be a full-fledged push to process these visas in a short period of time. This will be a major problem, and currently, no one is paying attention to this issue at all."
