The Japan Paralympic Committee (JPC) announced on the 16th that starting in April, they will begin a new system that guarantees support for women athletes who receive performance designation for a period of two years following childbirth. This initiative is aimed at ensuring that these athletes do not lose their designated status due to the interruption of their training and competitive activities during pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

The JPC's performance designation allows athletes to receive support for international competition participation and funding for their activities. There has been increasing concern among female athletes about the fear of losing their designated status due to breaks in their competitive activities caused by pregnancy and childbirth. This new policy is designed to create an environment where female athletes can freely choose life stages such as motherhood without having to abandon their sports careers or the possibility of receiving performance incentives.

According to stakeholders supporting female athletes in both the Olympics and Paralympics, the formalization of postpartum regulations by a sports organization is a groundbreaking move. Such measures are relatively rare, highlighting the JPC's commitment to facilitating the participation of women in sports while balancing their family responsibilities, an essential step towards gender equality in athletics and support for athlete well-being during significant life changes.