- Baseball/softball, karate and sports climbing also included
- Final decision for 2020 Olympics will be made next year
Surfing and skateboarding look set to be Olympic events at the Tokyo 2020 Games after they were included on a list of five extra sports put forward by organisers.
The other three sports proposed by Tokyo were baseball/softball, karate, and sports climbing. If the IOC gives the go-ahead it will mean an extra 18 events involving an additional 474 athletes.
The IOC has changed its rules to allow Games hosts to propose sports which are popular in their country. Squash also had hopes of being included but those have now been dashed.
International Surfing Association president Fernando Aguerre said: “Tokyo 2020’s announcement is an extraordinary moment for our sport and for the global surfing community.
“Surfing has incredible and growing global appeal, particularly amongst young people, and we believe that the dynamic energy of the sport and its fan base around the world would bring many benefits for Tokyo 2020 and the Games.
“Surfing embodies a cool, playful lifestyle that would add a completely new element to the programme, helping the Games reach new fans through live action and stunning broadcast opportunities.”
Squash was one of three sports initially in the running to make it to 2020 but lost out when wrestling was reinstated. Professional Squash Association (PSA) Chief Executive Alex Gough says the sport should remain positive despite the latest blow to any Olympic aspirations.
He said: “To know that dream is once again out of reach is naturally a difficult proposition for the sport. But I feel we can take a lot of positives from the huge ground we have made as a sport over the last decade - transitioning into a burgeoning global sport that is now broadcast in almost 100 countries worldwide and which has witnessed increases in player earnings by over 20% so far in 2015 alone.”
World squash president Narayana Ramachandran has been left ‘devastated’ by the setback.
“I don’t believe we could have done more to get our message across to both the Tokyo 2020 Games hosts and the IOC,” he said.
“Squash could bring something special as an addition to the program. After our 12-year journey to join the Olympic Games program, and the opportunity of a ‘second chance’ after the heart-break of missing out in our first 2020 bid in Buenos Aires two years ago, I am utterly devastated on behalf of our great sport that our dream of taking part in the Tokyo Games cannot now be realised.
“I know I speak on behalf of the millions of squash players around the world for whom the opportunity of seeing their sport participate in the Olympics has been an absolute priority - and, like me, they will be heartbroken.”
Taken from HERE.
The addition on surfing and skateboarding means that squash is unable to be a part of the 2020 Olympics. This action seems to be an attempt by the Olympic committee to attract younger viewers to the event. The Summer Olympic viewership decreased by 2.8 million from 2012 to 2016 while the Winter Olympics had decreased viewership by 3 million from 2010 to 2014. Whether surfing and skateboarding is far more interesting than squash is debatable, and for the most part it depends on a person's opinion. In my opinion, I think squash would be a fascinating addition to the Olympics. One thing that could attract viewers to squash is the intensity of a match. To be quite frank, I do not understand the rules of squash and how it is played. But as a viewer, I could feel how close a match is by the speed of their actions and the reaction of the crowd, thus making it a great spectator sport.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, adding new sports to the Olympic Games can only be a positive thing. First, it will be positive for the athletes that will now have the opportunity to represent their sports. Indeed, the Olympic Games are one of the most famous sport competitions worldwide and being able to represent their sport must be an amazing thing for athletes and help them to be more recognized. Then it will also have benefits for the spectators who will discover new sports that they may not know very well. For example, a lot of people know about skateboarding but they may not know that it is possible to practice it in competitions. Finally, it could also be positive for the organization of the competition as the new sports will attract new supporters that would not have come to see the Olympic Games otherwise. Therefore, it will make them earn more money and have more people visiting the country organizing the games.
ReplyDeleteThe addition of both surfing and skateboarding to the long list of sports in the Olympics is positive in my opinion. With surfing and skateboarding in the list there are numerous positive effects that comes with it. First of all is the fact that it adds the amount of attendance in which will make the event much more diverse and attractive. Second of all it adds an a huge amount of revenue to the hosting country and also the Olympic committee. With the income derive from the event , it can then be used for the development of the two additional sports. The third point is the fact that it adds longevity and eventfulness because of the addition of these two sports. From my overall standpoint the addition of the two sports are positive and has a variety of benefits. For the fact that squash has not been added to the Olympics should be reviewed again. Because in my point of view it is a legit and competent sport to be added to the world's biggest sporting event.
ReplyDeleteI think adding skateboarding and surfing to the olympics will be a very brilliant move because not only it brings a new sport in the olympic scene but it will also give more people the chance to finally participate in the olympics. I’m really sure that many people are looking forward for the event even more because of the addition of skateboarding and surfing, I’m also very excited because I know skateboarding and surfing are really popular and have a really large community so it will bring a new atmosphere in the olympics later in Japan. But despite the addition of skateboarding and surfing I really hope that more sports are added into the olympics especially sports that are rarely spotted like esports because esports if you really follow them they really have a big fanbase and if the olympics add this kind of sport I’m really sure that they will earn way more revenue than any other olympics that have been held.
ReplyDelete- Dimas Aditya Permana
The fact that both surfing and skateboarding are included in the next Olympics are a positive thing in my opinion. Because it serves as a recognition by the international parties that both of these activities is worthy to be called sports. Especially for Skateboarding. Because you don’t usually associate skate with sports. Skate is usually Associated with Street subculture, the kind of things where youngsters do to express their emotions. This inclusion in the Olympics will affect the standing of Skateboard as a whole. Why? Because, now Skaters can be considered “Athletes”, which is a real profession recognized by most people. Plus, it sounds a lot better than “skaters”. This can also boost their earnings, since medallist will most likely be awrded extra money by the government. The most important thing, is that it turns Skateboarding into an official sport, which boost it’s positive views in public.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, adding new sports such as skateboarding and surfing is brilliant. Maybe there are lots of people who really watch that sport so adding it to 2020 Olympic will make it more interesting. People being more enthusiast to join and watch 2020 Olympic, because I heard that World Olympic is slowly dying. Adding it to the 2020 Olympic giving a recognition to skateboard and surfing who are more considered as a lifestyle rather than a sports thing. Also, it opening people’s eyes that skateboarding and surfing is not a bad thing, skate boarding is so related to rebellion and chaos. Adding it to the Olympic giving a chance to prove to people that it’s not as chaotic as what people thoughts. I hope that adding skateboarding and surfing to 2020 Olympic can make a better world since skateboarder in the street are practicing to join the world Olympic and becoming a professional skateboarder, rather than jus hanging out on the streets and disturbing people around.
ReplyDeleteIt is good to hear that there will be more sports that can be done in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Even though this decision is not yet final, at least we can hope that there will be more sports. This will bring joy to the people that do the sports! There are not many tournaments for surfing, skateboarding, karate, or climbing. Although there might be some, the competition is probably a small one and do not have the international world’s recognition. With Olympics, these sports can make their big debut. Personally, I am interested in climbing and karate. I really like to see people duel against each other in karate because I like how people move in martial arts. As for climbing, I want to see how people compete in this sport. Is it a match between two climbers to see who is the fastest to reach the peak? I hope I can see it in 2020.
ReplyDeleteThe Olympic Games are a set of international sports competitions which take place every four years, each time in a different country. Based on the text the Olympic games 2020 committe wants to add surfing and skateboarding to the Olympic events at the Tokyo 2020 Games. So is surfing and skateboarding a sports? First of all sport means an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. On the other hand surfing means sport that is often considered as much an attitude or way of life as it is a sport. Surfing is mostly enjoyed as a recreational activity, but is also a competitive sport. Surfing involves riding ocean waves with a surfboard. And skateboarding means an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard, as well as a recreational activity, an art form, a entertainment industry job, and a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. So for me surfing and skateboarding should be added to Olympic games in Tokyo. And the positive thingabout adding these 2 sports is it could attract more viewers to the event, especially the young generations.
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