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The number of oath-takers at the Olympics opening ceremony has been doubled from three to six for the Tokyo Games to ensure gender parity, the IOC said while announcing that the oath has also been reworked slightly to incorporate “inclusion and equality” in it.

The Olympic oath is taken by an athlete from the host country, on behalf of all the competitors and the ceremony also includes one coach and a judge.

This time, Japan will pick two — one male and one female — from each group for the event, which has been an integral part of the Games since 1920. The showpiece kicks off on July 23.

To note, the Olympic oath was first recited at the Opening Ceremony of the 1920 Games. The original text was written by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games.

Following a decision taken by the IOC Executive Board, all participating National Olympic Committees (NOCs) have been offered the opportunity to have one female and one male athlete as their flag-bearers during the Opening Ceremony.