Surfing at the Summer Olympics will make its debut in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. After several attempts at inclusion in the Olympics, the International Surfing Association has been successful in getting surfing included in the 2020 Games.
Video Surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Setting
With the decision to have surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics, officials announced that surfing would take place in the ocean, and not in a wave pool such as those from the Kelly Slater Wave Company as had been speculated. The contest site for the 2020 Games was decided to be Shidashita Beach, or "Shida," located about 40 miles outside of Tokyo in Chiba. In order to ensure quality surf, the contest will feature a waiting period of 16 days. Once the event runs, it will take two days to finish competition.
Maps Surfing at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Bid for inclusion
On September 28, 2015, surfing was featured on a shortlist along with baseball, softball, skateboarding, karate, and sport climbing to be considered for inclusion in the 2020 Summer Olympics. On August 3, 2016 the International Olympic Committee voted to include all five sports (counting baseball and softball as a single sport) for inclusion in the 2020 Games.
Potential participation
Professional surfer Kelly Slater, widely considered to be the greatest surfer of all time, has stated that "it'd be a huge honor" for him to participate in the Olympics, even at the age of 48, which he will have reached in 2020. Additionally, it is likely that the dominant surfers of the World Surf League, such as Gabriel Medina and John John Florence, will be selected by their respected countries to participate in the Games.
Number of participants
There will be 20 men and 20 women, all shortboard riders, competing in categories separated by sex. In the future - if surfing is included in the Games again - there may be more categories included, which could create more opportunities for athletes to win medals. For now, it is limited to a field of 40 men and women shortboarders.
Qualification
Quota places will be allocated to the athletes at the following events:
- Host Country: Japan as host country is allocated 1 place in both men's and women's events. If at least one Japan has earned a qualification place through other events, the relevant Host Country Place(s) shall be reallocated to the next highest ranked eligible athlete at the 2020 World Surfing Games.
- 2019 World Surf League Championship Tour - the 10 highest ranked men and 8 highest ranked women will be awarded quota places.
- 2019 ISA World Surfing Games - the top finishers from each continent with the exception of the Americas will be awarded a quota place.
- 2019 Pan American Games - the top finisher in men's and women's events will be awarded a quota place.
- 2020 ISA World Surfing Games - the top 4 men and 6 womens will be awarded quota places. If a NOC qualifies more than the maximum number of athletes, the 2020 ISA World Surfing Games will prevail and any places earned from 2019 will be reawarded to the next highest finishing athlete(s).
There is a maximum of 2 men and 2 womens per NOC.
Timeline
See also
- 2020 Summer Olympics
- International Surfing Association
References
External links
- International Olympic Committee official website
- World Surf League official website
- Kelly Slater Wave Company official website
Source of article : Wikipedia
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