South Africa: Trans beauty contestant
Reuters reported August 2 on Miss South Africa's first Transgender contestant, Lehlogonolo Machaba, who joined up after the contest opened to Transgender contestants in 2019. While South Africa is the only country in Africa with LGBTQ rights enshrined in its constitution, including the right to change one's legal identity, violence against LGBTQ people is rising there, with over 10 such people killed in attacks this year. Machaba says she expected backlash, however, and that the killing of her close friend in a hate crime gave her greater determination.

Russia: Athletes mocked
The Philadelphia Gay News reported on August 4 that Russian state television has been openly mocking LGBTQ athletes, compete with terms like "abomination" and "perversion" being used on talk shows, among other offensive terms for Gay men and Trans people. Transgender weightlifter Lauren Hubbard and Gay British gold medalist Tom Daley were among those specifically targeted. Since the broadcasts, the International Olympic Committee has reiterated its support of LGBT+ athletes.