A transgeneridade e o comitê olímpico internacional: análise discursiva da série Identify

Abstract

The following paper has the objective to comprehend the communicational relationship of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in regards to the issue of trans-inclusion in high performance sport. The study employs the ritualistic perception of communication to understand how limiting beliefs and prejudices are perpetuated towards transgender athletes, in addition to discussing the dynamics of power that involve the IOC and other social actors that dispute the legitimacy over sports rights of trans people, aiming to contribute to a critical reflection about the challenges and possibilities of a respectful and effective policy of trans-inclusion with help from communication. The research utilizes methodologies of discourse analysis, to investigate the Identify series, from 2017, which explores the journey of five transgender athletes and relates it to the eligibility milestones developed by the committee, that being the main analytical object. Beyond that, the official documents from the IOC regarding to the participation of trans athletes in the Olympic Games, as well as the public manifestation of its representatives, are also used in the analysis.