The five new sports will not be included in this year’s summer games, but rather the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
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The IOC scrapped a short-lived cap of 28 Olympic sports to include the new events, with golf and rugby returning to the Olympic progamme in Rio after a gap of 112 years and 92 years respectively.
The new sports, proposed in June, were confirmed by a unanimous vote at the 129th International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.
Although baseball and softball actually made separate appearances between 1992 and 2008, they were jointly readmitted this time around. The IOC voted both out in 2005.
“This is a game-changing moment for surfing”, said global federation president Fernando Aguerre. There will be an equal number of teams for baseball and softball, but different team sizes because baseball teams have 24 players while softball has 15.
Skateboarders, karate masters, climbers, surfers and baseball or softball players now have a chance to vie for an Olympic medal after five new sports are introduced in the summer Olympic Games in 2020. “The decision demonstrates that the World Games Association’s developing collaboration with the International Olympic Committee is bearing fruit”. 9 and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has said the dates of are “not ideal”.
Sections of the skateboarding community have previously been scathing about the sport becoming a part of the Olympics, with numerous online petitions having been started calling for its exclusion.
“Baseball/softball is among the most widely-played games in the world”, DBV president Mirko Heid said in an online statement. We have an agreement with all federations and have an open discussion and are on a good way with the Major League Baseball.
“It’s delivery time”, Bach said.
Surprise choice skateboarding will have two street and two park events and will see 40 competitors each (20 male and 20 female).
“We believe the five sports deliver significant benefits, including worldwide youth appeal and great added value to Tokyo 2020 overall”.
Meanwhile, sports climbing will also be held in urban Tokyo, it will feature men’s and women’s competitions for bouldering, lead and speed combined.
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Seriously can’t wait to see what they’re going to do with the skateboarding and climbing competitions.
