We do all matter, frustrating as it is to live in a society where stating that is justified. Really nice piece again this week, well written and constructed.
As a radical person with parents who played international sport, the trans sport issue seems to most clearly reveal just how alienated many people are from the fundamental nature of sport. Sure, competition is a feature, but one that emerges from a foundation of simply having fun of confronting a challenge and developing skill. Both of my folks embodied that. Losing sucked, but playing poorly, win or lose, was clearly worse.
What are you asking, Eugene? I sort of get it, but I sort of don't. I really wanted to go to an Olympics as an athlete. To go and place last was like what I would dream of. But I realized I didn't have the talent / started too late and then drifted off. So I manufactured my own Olympic experience with a musical career. To this day, working for the IOC or something similar is a dream that maybe needs to stay in fantasy as it may be the place I love it the most-- from a distance.
Regardless of what you think in this instance you're probably not going to be murdered for it. Not everyone can say that. But yes...I had planned to go to the winter Olympics for Luge. A dream I've had to let go. BJJ is enough.
ONe day when we see each other again I'd like to hear about luge. I watched all the luge and sliding events last year and they were wonderful. As far as the other questions / comments from you, I'd like to answer but am not so clear on the direction they are pointing.
So here is a radical thought that could get messy quickly: We have leagues for cis-male and female, why not trans leagues? It seems like most attention for Trans folks is unwanted attention, maybe something like a separate sports league may give these folks a more distinct, balanced, and daresay fair avenue to exist in the public domain. Just a small opinion...
Nice article Eugene. I agree we're all God's children, and people's choices and preferences for themselves being anyone's else's problem is indeed the problem of the person having the problem.
On the other hand, I've thought a lot about trans people competing alongside CIS people in categories that are meant for CIS people as a foregone conclusion since the superheavy weightlifter from New Zealand, Laurel Hubbard, was permitted to compete as a woman in the 2020 Olympics, being the first trans person in Olympic history to do so. On one hand, a nice victory for having all people being seen as people. On the other hand, a huge can of worms is opening and it will take a lot to sort out. Competitive sports is already struggling with doping and catching cheaters and making a level playing field. I'm not so sure trans people in CIS categories will work, as I question what unfair advantages that brings, be it pre-existing musculature or having to take hormones that are on banned substances lists in order to effectuate gender changes. In the case of Laurel Hubbard, maybe it was lucky, maybe it was unlucky, that she bombed out in the snatch, and could not continue/register a total, meaning she "competed but did not place." But for sure she was physically more powerful in her lifting than many of the CIS women in her category.
Part of me kind of wonders if she "threw the fight" but scored a political victory, which was her greater objective. Who can say?
a few years ago the Spanish special olympics team got busted. Sure...another cheating scandal...HOWEVER, as it turns out, the Spanish special olympic team cheated by NOT being very special at all. They were fully and totally able bodied. I always wondered what they told friends to explain their medals and trophies. I also wondered what they feel they had won. I'm sure you see where I am going here. Still I maintain though...it's none of my business.
I remember watching a video about that Spanish basketball team. I agree that every thing can't be everyone's business, but it is the business of international sports bodies and doping agencies to sort out, and they're going to have to. I wonder if within 40-50 years we'll have trans games or a trans category in the Olympics. I did a quick look to see if the Gay Games are still going, and it says that they welcome trans athletes as well. I wonder how that is handled there? I will go research.
I'm very interested in this as the Olympics are one of the things I get most passionate about. I've been interested in doping in sports since I wrote a paper after having read this book in high school. https://www.amazon.com/Drugs-Sport-Politics-Robert-Voy/dp/0880114096 Then I got super into it all when I trained as an Olympic weightlifter in my teens, and met former Olympians and National coaches who offered me qualified opinions and viewpoints on what the boundaries of "fair and honest" might mean.
In case this is of any interest, here's the Gay Games stance on trans athletes competing. Essentially, it says people are allowed to compete as the gender they feel they align with, however some events will be more strict in admitting CIS genders only. Which ones those are, I didn't notice in this document, but I'm also tired and going to bed. https://gaygames.org/resources/Documents/FGG%20Gender%20Policy.pdf
We do all matter, frustrating as it is to live in a society where stating that is justified. Really nice piece again this week, well written and constructed.
As a radical person with parents who played international sport, the trans sport issue seems to most clearly reveal just how alienated many people are from the fundamental nature of sport. Sure, competition is a feature, but one that emerges from a foundation of simply having fun of confronting a challenge and developing skill. Both of my folks embodied that. Losing sucked, but playing poorly, win or lose, was clearly worse.
BINGO!
What are you asking, Eugene? I sort of get it, but I sort of don't. I really wanted to go to an Olympics as an athlete. To go and place last was like what I would dream of. But I realized I didn't have the talent / started too late and then drifted off. So I manufactured my own Olympic experience with a musical career. To this day, working for the IOC or something similar is a dream that maybe needs to stay in fantasy as it may be the place I love it the most-- from a distance.
Regardless of what you think in this instance you're probably not going to be murdered for it. Not everyone can say that. But yes...I had planned to go to the winter Olympics for Luge. A dream I've had to let go. BJJ is enough.
ONe day when we see each other again I'd like to hear about luge. I watched all the luge and sliding events last year and they were wonderful. As far as the other questions / comments from you, I'd like to answer but am not so clear on the direction they are pointing.
HAH....like life!
So here is a radical thought that could get messy quickly: We have leagues for cis-male and female, why not trans leagues? It seems like most attention for Trans folks is unwanted attention, maybe something like a separate sports league may give these folks a more distinct, balanced, and daresay fair avenue to exist in the public domain. Just a small opinion...
well if trans folks wanted to start one I'd support it 100 percent. So, not so messy. Or....is it?
Nice article Eugene. I agree we're all God's children, and people's choices and preferences for themselves being anyone's else's problem is indeed the problem of the person having the problem.
On the other hand, I've thought a lot about trans people competing alongside CIS people in categories that are meant for CIS people as a foregone conclusion since the superheavy weightlifter from New Zealand, Laurel Hubbard, was permitted to compete as a woman in the 2020 Olympics, being the first trans person in Olympic history to do so. On one hand, a nice victory for having all people being seen as people. On the other hand, a huge can of worms is opening and it will take a lot to sort out. Competitive sports is already struggling with doping and catching cheaters and making a level playing field. I'm not so sure trans people in CIS categories will work, as I question what unfair advantages that brings, be it pre-existing musculature or having to take hormones that are on banned substances lists in order to effectuate gender changes. In the case of Laurel Hubbard, maybe it was lucky, maybe it was unlucky, that she bombed out in the snatch, and could not continue/register a total, meaning she "competed but did not place." But for sure she was physically more powerful in her lifting than many of the CIS women in her category.
Part of me kind of wonders if she "threw the fight" but scored a political victory, which was her greater objective. Who can say?
a few years ago the Spanish special olympics team got busted. Sure...another cheating scandal...HOWEVER, as it turns out, the Spanish special olympic team cheated by NOT being very special at all. They were fully and totally able bodied. I always wondered what they told friends to explain their medals and trophies. I also wondered what they feel they had won. I'm sure you see where I am going here. Still I maintain though...it's none of my business.
I remember watching a video about that Spanish basketball team. I agree that every thing can't be everyone's business, but it is the business of international sports bodies and doping agencies to sort out, and they're going to have to. I wonder if within 40-50 years we'll have trans games or a trans category in the Olympics. I did a quick look to see if the Gay Games are still going, and it says that they welcome trans athletes as well. I wonder how that is handled there? I will go research.
But how is it you’ve chosen to give a shit about the issue at all? Haha….
I'm very interested in this as the Olympics are one of the things I get most passionate about. I've been interested in doping in sports since I wrote a paper after having read this book in high school. https://www.amazon.com/Drugs-Sport-Politics-Robert-Voy/dp/0880114096 Then I got super into it all when I trained as an Olympic weightlifter in my teens, and met former Olympians and National coaches who offered me qualified opinions and viewpoints on what the boundaries of "fair and honest" might mean.
Still...by way of so-called "skin in the game" seems your interests are more academic than existential, yes?
In case this is of any interest, here's the Gay Games stance on trans athletes competing. Essentially, it says people are allowed to compete as the gender they feel they align with, however some events will be more strict in admitting CIS genders only. Which ones those are, I didn't notice in this document, but I'm also tired and going to bed. https://gaygames.org/resources/Documents/FGG%20Gender%20Policy.pdf
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/martina-navratilova-calls-world-athletics-decision-transgender-females-step-right-direction