Sport climbing and the Olympics, the dream is becoming a reality

The world of sport climbing competitions has waited for this moment for a long, long time. Finally it’s here, or almost: sport climbing is close to being included in its first ever Olympic Games. Today the Organising Committee of the XXXII Olympics scheduled to take place in 2020 in Tokyo, Japan, announced the list of 5 new sports it has proposed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). These include baseball/softball, karate, skateboard, surfing and also climbing with its three disciplines Bouldering, Lead and Speed. All that is missing now is the final decision, taken by IOC when it meets in August 2016 and climbing’s dream of becoming an Olympic sport will transform into reality.

"It is a great honor to have been chosen." says Marco Scolaris, President of the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC). "We thank the Tokyo 2020 Additional Event Programme Panel for this fantastic opportunity and the recognition within the Olympic Movement. Of course, there is still a long way to go, and all of us at the IFSC are deeply committed to meeting the challenges ahead. Together with our athletes and the National Federations, we are reaching new heights."

Yagihara Kunio, President of the Japanese Mountaineering Association, commented "Now more than ever, we are convinced that Sport Climbing would be the perfect complement to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games program, and be a source of inspiration to the 500,000 Japanese climbers and all the spectators who will discover this sport in real conditions."

Sport climbing is now one step closer to reaching its historic objective and this cannot but make all climbers happy and increase everyone’s commitment to this sport.

23/02/2010 - Sport climbing is now fully recognised by the IOC. Interview with IFSC President Marco Scolaris
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ratified and recognised the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) during its Plenary Session at Vancouver, Canada. As the President of the IFSC Marco Scolaris explains, this is a fundamental step for sport climbing in its bid to become an Olympic sport.

INFO
www.tokyo2020.jp
ww.ifsc-climbing.org/index.php/latest-news/item/684-sport-climbing-is-here-ifsc-got-a-ticket-for-tokyo-2020-olympics
www.ifsc-climbing.org/images/media-centre/press-releases/JMA_statement_Tokyo_2020.pdf
www.ifsc-climbing.org/images/media-centre/press-releases/2015_IFSC_Tokyo2020.pdf