In a unanimous vote, the 90 IOC members backed the executive board’s recommendation to bring in the five sports, which will add 470 athletes to the Olympic Village and 18 new events in four years’ time. Well, not all of them are new, as baseball/softball will make their triumphant returns to the Olympics after getting axed following the 2008 Games.
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“Baseball and softball are global sports that belong in the Olympics”, he said, adding that their approval “will allow fans throughout the world to again enjoy baseball and softball on the Olympic stage”.
The Tokyo Games are scheduled for July 24 to August 9, and it is unclear whether Major League Baseball players might be available to participate.
Baseball and softball, both highly popular in Japan, will return to the Games after a 12-year absence. If not, Carraro said, it will be “difficult for baseball to be included” beyond 2020. As home to the world’s best surfing, the WSL looks forward to working with the ISA to ensure that the sport is showcased in the best possible manner and with the world’s best athletes.
Reacting to surfing’s inclusion, International Surfing Association president Fernando Aguerre said the sport was “absolutely thrilled”.
Organizers did not rule out that surfing would take place with wave-making technology, though natural waves are preferred.
Karate could use the Nippon budokan – home of Japanese martial arts – and will have two events (one men’s and one women’s) for kata and three weight classes for kumite.
“It was a very intense wait. It really starts. We are very confident we will celebrate great games here in Rio and the world will be surprised to see what will happen here”. This event has been in previous Olympics with its last appearance in the 2008 Beijing Games.
Coates spoke of “a mix of iconic and urban venues”.
Tokyo will host skateboarding, which will comprise two street and two park competitions with 20 male and 20 female participants.
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IOC Vice President and AOC President John Coates is the Chairman of the Coordination Commission for Tokyo 2020. It also won’t necessarily apply to future Olympics, meaning some or all of the sports could be a one-off event of sorts if the city chosen for the 2024 Olympics does not select them.
