Tom Daley: A Safer Olympics for LGBTQ Athletes

Tom Daley, British Diver and Olympic gold medalist, has recently shared what his goal is for a safer, more inclusive Olympics.

While accepting the Attitude Spot Award at the 2021 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, the Olympic gold medalist shared an important goal:

“I want to make it my mission [. . .] to make it so that the countries that criminalize and make it punishable by death for LGBT people are not allowed to compete at the Olympic Games.”

Right now, there are still ten countries who criminalize LGBTQ citizens by death, countries that still take part in the Olympic Games.

“It’s all well and good speaking about those things,” says Daley, “but I think it’s really important to try and create change rather than just highlighting and shining a light on those things.”

His goal, says Daley, is to make it so that the aforementioned countries can no longer participate, ideally in time for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

“I am incredibly lucky to come from Great Britain, where I am able to be my true, authentic self and compete without worry of ramifications,” he says, “and I feel like wherever you’re born, you should be able to have that stress taken away from you.”

The athlete goes on to further emphasize that these countries, along with not being able to compete, should also not be able to host.

“For example, the World Cup coming up in Qatar has extreme rules against LGBT people and about women, and I think it should not be allowed for a sporting event to host in a country that criminalizes against basic human rights.”

While there is still much work to be done, Tom Daily doesn’t shy away from celebrating the achievements at the Tokyo Games from the LGBTQ community.

“These past Olympic Games there were more out LGBTQ athletes than any of the previous Olympics combined.”

You can watch the entire speech here.

Photo by Bartek Szmigulski.