Tokyo Olympics Submits Surfing Proposal
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. The organizers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games proposed adding 18 events to the Olympic schedule that not currently included in the 2020 sport program. In addition to baseball, softball, karate, skateboarding and sports climbing, the organizing committee wants surfing in its Games.
The International Olympic Committee will decide at its meeting in August 2016 on what sports will be included.
The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee explained, “This package of events represents both traditional and emerging, youth-focused events, all of which are popular both in Japan and internationally. They will serve as a driving force to further promote the Olympic Movement and its values, with a focus on youth appeal, and will add value to the Games by engaging the Japanese population and new audiences worldwide, reflecting the Tokyo 2020 Games vision.
This possibility for the organizing committees to propose events in new sports to feature at the edition of their Games, is a completely new and fresh approach in the development of the Olympic programme. It builds on the ongoing focus of flexibility, innovation and youth, allowing Tokyo 2020 to reflect the sports culture of Tokyo and Japan, destinations that have always captured the imagination of the world’s youth.”
“We firmly believe that by connecting with youth, bringing to life Olympic Agenda 2020 and the Tokyo 2020 vision, [this] proposal constitutes the best possible package that will add the most value to the Games,” said Fujio Mitarai, Chair of the Additional Event Programme Panel.
The 18 events will result in the addition of some 474 athletes to the sports programme for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 including 20 female surfers and 20 male surfers.
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Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
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