2020 Olympics one-year countdown: a guide to the new Tokyo Games events – sport climbing, skateboarding and surfing debut to appeal to youth
- Karate is among the new events, with eight gold medals on offer in Japan
- Baseball and softball return for the first time since Beijing 2008
When the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony takes place on July 24, 2020, the start of the 32nd Summer Games will also be the beginning of Olympic history for four new sports, the return of two forms of ball games and the addition of another basketball format.
Tokyo will see the debut of sport climbing, surfing, skateboarding, and karate, while baseball/softball return – all five changes having been lobbied for by the Tokyo Organising Committee and approved by the International Olympic Committee.
Basketball will also offer a three-on-three format alongside the full sport for the first time.
Sport climbing, surfing and skateboarding are being included to appeal to a younger audience – while Paris 2024 may go even further with breakdancing up for inclusion – whereas karate and baseball are hugely popular in Japan.
The 2024 organising committee also proposed that surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing remain on the programme for the Paris Games. This suggests the sports are here to stay, but what can you expect in these new Olympic sports?