GENEVA, March 4 -- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed to have two flagbearers, a male and a female, for each team at the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony on Wednesday.

"We have changed the rules to allow National Olympic Committees to nominate a female and a male athlete to jointly bear their flag during the opening ceremony," said an IOC statement.

"We encourage all National Olympic Committees to make use of this option."

The IOC also announced that July 24-August 9 Olympics will be the "first gender-balanced Olympic Games in history with 48.8 percent women's participation".

The IOC's executive board meeting added that there should be - for the first time - at least one female and one male athlete in every one of the 206 teams as well as the Refugee Olympic Team participating.

【体坛英语资讯：Two flagbearers, a male and a female, allowed at Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony】相关文章：

★ 体坛英语资讯：Top seed Henin ousted in Dubai Championship tennis

★ 体坛英语资讯：Former France coach tipped to direct China

★ 体坛英语资讯：Spain makes Euro 2008 final on 3-0 victory over Russia

★ 体坛英语资讯：Yi debuts for Bucks in win

★ 体坛英语资讯：Liu starts from scratch to prepare for 2008

★ 体坛英语资讯：Government cooperation needed in doping fight

★ 体坛英语资讯：Tennis ace Peng ready for prime time

★ 体坛英语资讯：China to meet U.S. in basketball opener at Olympic Games

★ 体坛英语资讯：Drastic changes made in soccer team

★ 体坛英语资讯：Barcelonas title hopes take a hit with injuries