Surfing, Sport Climbing, and Skateboarding Added To The 2020 Olympic Docket

By Barclay | August 3, 2016 10:51 pm ET

IOC Headquarters – Lausanne, CH | Photo Credit: Arnaud Gaillard | Cover Photo: João Trindade

The deed is done.

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

So you’re saying the “urban venue” could look like this… | Photo Credit: Evan Brant

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.