2020 Olympics: Tokyo Proposes Five Additional Sports

Karate, skateboarding, surfing, baseball/softball and sport climbing are five of the recommended sports to be included in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

BBC reports host countries are given the chance to propose one or more sports popular in the country to attract more sponsors and greater audience. The Tokyo 2020 organizing committee shortlisted these sports events set to be approved by the International Olympic Committee in August 2016.

According to the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, "this package of events represents both traditional and emerging, youth-focused events, all of which are popular both in Japan and internationally."

"This will serve as a driving force to further promote the Olympic movement and its values," the statement added.

Japan's home-grown martial art, Judo, was introduced into the Olympics when Tokyo last hosted the international games in 1964 and was included in the succeeding events.

Another Japanese martial art, Karate, might be given another chance to be included after its unsuccessful bids in London 2012 and Rio 2016. "A sport with Japanese roots. Logistics of karate at an Olympic Games would appeal to the IOC as they would not need a specially­-built venue and could take place over just three days," the World Karate Federation presented.

Karate will take place over eight men's and women's events with a total of 80 athletes.

For International Surfing Association president Fernando Aguerre, Tokyo's announcement was "an extraordinary moment for our sport."

"Surfing embodies a cool, playful lifestyle that would add a completely new element to the programme, helping the Games reach new fans through live action and stunning broadcast opportunities," he said.

The surfing competition will be having two short board events for 40 competitors, while the proposed skate boarding competition will have two street and two park events for 80 athletes.

Men's baseball and women's softball, a hugely popular sport in the country, will be returning in Tokyo after it was first included in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. According to the proposal, the baseball tournament will be consisted of six male teams with a total of 144 players. Meanwhile, softball will be participated by six female teams with a total of 90 players.

IOC chose sport climbing as a demonstration sport at last year's Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, and would also be potentially included in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

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