Sport Climbing Olympics Bound
Sport Climbing Olympics Bound
On August 2nd-4th, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) convened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the 129th IOC Session. Today, the IOC officially approved the addition of Sport Climbing to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
A Long, Hard Climb
“We are
so happy that Sport Climbing will be participating in the
Games of Tokyo,” says IFSC President Marco Scolaris.
“The Olympics have been our dream for quite some time, and
now the hard work has finally paid off. We would like to
thank the IOC for extending a truly unique opportunity to
our sport.”
In December of 2014, the IOC unanimously approved the progressive Olympic Agenda 2020 in its entirety which proposed additional events for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. After eight events were shortlisted, the IFSC and the Japanese Mountaineering Association presented their bid in Tokyo in August of 2015. In June, the Executive Board of the IOC approved a package containing five of these events to be submitted for approval at the 129th IOC Session: baseball/softball, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing.
AUGUST 3rd 2016
Today, the IOC approved all
five additional events for Tokyo 2020. After much
anticipation and hard work, the Olympics dream has finally
come true for Sport Climbing.
“We are honoured to contribute the missing vertical element to the Tokyo 2020 Games, and the IFSC will continue to work with our athletes, National Federations and devoted partners to promote Sport Climbing around the world so that it is recognized as a major sport,” adds Debra Gawrych, IFSC Secretary General.
Shared Values
Sport Climbing embodies core
values of the Olympics Movement. It is an exciting, healthy
and affordable sport which can be practiced on all five
continents. Women and youth are well represented, and
persons with disabilities participate as well. The sport is
growing in popularity, and many leading athletes hail from
Japan, the host nation. At the heart of Sport Climbing is
the spirit of the Olympics.
The Journey
Continues
Although the road to official approval has
concluded, the work is far from finished. Many steps must be
taken to prepare for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic
Games.
The IFSC will immediately begin working on the
technical aspects of the Olympic Sport Climbing
competitions. The selection process will be drafted and
presented on March 11, 2017, at the IFSC Plenary Assembly in
Quebec City.
The IOC also announced today the proposed
venues for the Tokyo 2020 Additional Events. Although the
IOC Executive Board will not make a final decision until
December, the proposed venue for Sport Climbing competitions
is in the “Aomi,” Koto Ward, within the “Odaiba
Area” of the Tokyo Metropolis. In the meantime, the IFSC
will also work closely with the Tokyo Organizing Committee
of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the IOC to finalize
venue and infrastructure details, in order to offer the best
of Sport Climbing in Tokyo.
“We have reached the final
hold of our unbelievable climb, but another climb awaits us.
Our team is committed to preparing Sport Climbing for the
Olympic Games, and over the next four years we will continue
to work with the IOC to do so,” concludes
Scolaris.
Climbing New Zealand is the peak body for sport climbing in New Zealand and is a member of the International Federation of Sport Climbing IFSC. More on sport climbing and the IFSC Olympic Bid is available at www.ifsc-climbing.org.
ends