Thanks to international media coverage, everybody in the world is now convinced that the Japan Olympic Committee is sexist. When two of Japan's national soccer teams recently flew to Europe prior to participating in the Olympics, the women's squad was placed in the premium economy section (¥470,000) while the men's under-23 contingent got to sit in business class (¥670,000). The senior female player on board, Homare Sawa (33), answered Japanese reporters' questions about this arrangement by saying that maybe the two teams should have switched places and, in any case, the women were older. Only a few articles implied that she was probably being sardonic, and I'd like to think that if she was it's because she wanted to take the stuffing out of the sports media.

Many cried discrimination, which it is, according to the simplest definition of the word. Both teams are representing Japan, and for the JOC to allow the men to travel under more comfortable circumstances than the women would seem to contradict one of its principles. All Japanese Olympians — with the exceptions of the very large ones — are supposed to fly coach, presumably to avoid any hint of favoritism (and save the JOC money). The Japanese male soccer team flew business because its members are professionals and their sponsors paid for the upgrade, which means the JOC's rules only apply as long as money isn't involved; and, of course, money is always involved.

Had the JOC enforced its own edict and made the men's team sit in coach, would any players have refused to go? Last week Asahi Shimbun reported on various farewell parties for Olympic athletes, each one organized by a specific sports association. Some were attended by professionals, and several told the Asahi reporter they didn't consider the Olympics the pinnacle of sporting events. That doesn't mean they aren't excited about going; only that winning a medal doesn't signify as much to them as winning a world championship in their particular field of endeavor. As long as someone is paying for them to go to the Olympics they're happy and maybe honored to go. Even if they don't come home with a medal, think of the memories — and all those parties!