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