The International Olympic Committee voted to accept the five-sport package, which also includes karate and sport climbing.
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The IOC called it “the most comprehensive evolution of the Olympic program in modern history”.
Although baseball (1992-2008) and softball (1996-2008) were previously designated as Olympic sports, the other three sports are completely new to Olympic competition.
Baseball/softball, karate, skateboarding, sports climbing and surfing are all set to join the Olympic party in four years’ time.
IOC chiefs have promised the 28 worldwide federations that govern the current sports that their athlete and medal quotas are not under threat but a shake-up of the events they offer is likely.
The decision will add 18 events and 474 athletes, even as the International Olympic Committee tries to balance innovation with a promise to make the Games easier to stage and less bloated.
The IOC considered a variety of factors when assessing the proposal, including the impact on gender equality, the youth appeal of the sports and the legacy value of adding them to the Tokyo Games.
Jamie Owens, the editor-in-chief of Transworld Skateboarding Magazine, wasn’t as thrilled to see skateboarding on the Olympic list.
Surfing will make its Olympic Games debut at the 2020 edition in Tokyo – and top Australian officials say the sport’s inclusion is “overdue”.
Instead, a total of 18 events and 474 athletes will be added.
The 2016 Rio Olympic Games aren’t even officially underway yet and we’re already ready for them to be over. And though it’s always been assumed by those in softball circles that it would be reintroduced for Tokyo, it wasn’t until Wednesday’s vote that it became official.
“Baseball is part of Japanese culture, it has to be in the Olympics”, Cromartie said. It was included after sweeping reforms of the International Olympic Committee allowed host countries to bring in popular sports to boost viewership and attract better sponsors.
World Surfing Association President Fernando Aguerre wants to make it a permanent feature of the quadrennial event, “It is a very special feeling, it is like literally it has been a 22 year paddle on this wave, on this Olympic wave”.
IOC pays tribute to victims of 1972 Munich attack: IOC President Thomas Bach led a mourning ceremony Wednesday for the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches slain at the 1972 Munich Olympics – a tribute that a widow of one of the victims said brought “closure” for the families. News stories displayed here appear in our category for Sports and are licensed via a specific agreement between LongIsland.com and The Associated Press, the world’s oldest and largest news organization.
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SURFER magazine noted that the surfing competition at the 2020 games will take place at an ocean beach about 40 minutes from Tokyo, with 20 male and 20 female competitors.
