Skateboarding and surfing are among the 6 new sports added to the 2020 Olympic games
The International Olympic Committee announced Wednesday that six additional sports will be added to the docket at the 2020 Summer Olympics from Tokyo.
The IOC voted to include baseball, softball, surfing, skateboarding, karate, and sport climbing in Tokyo. The news comes on the heels of the 2014 vote from the IOC that ended a 28-sport cap at the Summer Games. The six new sports will also add 18 more medals and nearly 500 new athletes to the 2020 Olympics, according to Sports Illustrated.
While baseball and softball were both featured in the Olympics as recently as 2008, the other four events will be new.
Climbing will reportedly feature two categories for both men and women: bouldering, and a combined lead and speed. From Sports Illustrated:
In lead climbing, the competitors start at the bottom of a course and must climb within a set time frame and on only one attempt. Speed climbing involves a sometimes easier course that athletes focus on completing as fast as possible. Bouldering involves no ropes and can be attempted several times as courses are shorter and more difficult within a set amount of time.
Karate will reportedly feature two categories, debuting in front of its home crowd. From SI:
The Olympic competition will feature 60 athletes in six kumite and two kata demonstration categories. Kata is more of a demonstration sport that shows off karate's technique. Kumite is fighting that involves punching and kicking.
Details for both surfing and skateboarding are not yet clear.
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