The deed is done.
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Surfing, sport-climbing and skateboarding are now olympic sports. In what began as an underdog fight (especially for surfing), the International Olympic Comittee has turned over a new leaf in what is being widely viewed as a huge victory for the action sports community.
New Olympic Sports
- Surfing
- Sportclimbing
- Skateboarding
- Baseball/Softball
- Karate
The sports will be included in the 2020 summer games located in Tokyo. According to the press release from the IOC, sport climbing and skate comps will be held in what they are referring to as “urban venues.” The inclusion of the sports is a deliberate move to capture a more youthful audience for the games moving forward.
“We want to take sport to the youth. With the many options that young people have, we cannot expect any more that they will come automatically to us. We have to go to them.” – Thomas Bach, IOC President
While surfing was added, details including whether or not they will utilize a wave pool like Kelly Slater’s have been left a mystery.
Find the entire press release here: IOC APPROVES FIVE NEW SPORTS FOR OLYMPIC GAMES TOKYO 2020