Climbing comes a step closer to the Olympics

Competition climbing is one of five new sports expected to be introduced to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The proposal has still to be ratified by the full International Olympics Committee (IOC) session in August this year, but has been supported by the IOC Executive Board after being proposed by the Organising Committee for Tokyo 2020.

The proposal would introduce five sports: sport climbing (referred to in Britain as competition climbing), karate, skateboarding, softball/baseball, and surfing.

The package of five sports is seen as offering a focus on youth, which is at the heart of the Games vision for Tokyo 2020. It’s also a package that promotes gender equality, with each of the five sports having equal numbers of teams for men and women.

Kevin Howett, MCofS Sport Development Officer, said: “This is the second time sport climbing has been considered, so here’s hoping its inclusion in this package of sports will see it being included this time.

“Climbing is like few other sports, combining gymnastic and dance movements with mental and physical agility. All of us who do it know it is the best sport in the world and deserves its place in the Olympics.”

The inclusion of the five new sports would add 18 events and 474 athletes to the Olympic programme in Tokyo, without impacting existing sports.

Although, the proposal still has to be ratified by the full IOC Session in August this year, and although it is not binding on any future Games, it is still a significant step forward.

The BMC is also behind the introduction of climbing to the Games, and Dave Turnbull, BMC chief executive officer, said: “This is great news for the profile of the sport as a whole. Hopefully, inclusion in Tokyo 2020 will open the door to new commercial opportunities to help give our competitors the best possible chance of future success.”

The Organising Committee for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 proposed the new sports in response to the new flexibility provided by Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC’s strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, to encourage innovation in the Olympic programme. Olympic Agenda 2020 gives host cities the option of suggesting new sports and events for inclusion in their edition of the Games.

The host city selections are not binding on future Games hosts.