3 | Human rights risks and challenges Focus on the athlete experience, and the rights of athletes, has recently been elevated in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Of note for this Human Rights Risk Assessment, are the Independent Review of Gymnastics in Australia conducted by the AHRC55 and the Independent Review of Gymnastics in New Zealand56 (both published in 2021). The reviews were established following serious allegations of abuse of children, particularly young girls, within the sport. More athletes from a wide variety of sports are coming forward to expose misconduct and abuse experienced during their careers. In October 2021, former Matilda, Lisa De Vanna, spoke out about abuse she had witnessed while playing and the recent death of New Zealand Olympian cyclist Olivia Podmore has also led to a second inquiry into Cycling NZ. Stakeholders also raised the following risks pertaining to the rights of LGBTQI+ athletes, noting some overlap between these issues and the risks to spectators who identify as LGBTQI+ set out at section 3.2(e)(ii) of this report: 26 • The risk of transgender players facing discrimination under FIFA rules and being unable to participate in the tournament. – Stakeholders questioned FIFA’s position regarding the inclusion of trans players at all stages of their transition. – FIFA’s Gender Verification Regulations,57 issued in May 2011, appear to be still in place despite advice from FIFA that these would be removed in 2019. – FIFA’s Gender Verification Regulations mandate that national associations can issue a request for a gender test to be performed on a female footballer, and this may include a review of medical history and a physical examination performed by an independent expert. It is unclear whether FIFA’s policies, including the Gender Verification Regulations, are trans-inclusive or exclusive. This policy position needs to be urgently clarified and updated.