TOKYO — On Monday, the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee announced it had sent a request to the International Olympic Committee to include five new sports and 18 events at the 2020 Olympic games.
According to the Tokyo 2020 website, this is the first time any committee has been allowed to contribute ideas of sports to be added to the program for the Olympics.
The additions, they said, reflect popular sports found in Japan and across the world.
“This package of events represents both traditional and emerging, youth-focused events, all of which are popular both in Japan and internationally. They will serve as a driving force to further promote the Olympic Movement and its values, with a focus on youth appeal, and will add value to the Games by engaging the Japanese population and new audiences worldwide, reflecting the Tokyo 2020 Games vision.”
Of course, the final decision will come down to the Olympic Committee who are expected to vote on the proposed changes in August 2016.
The move would add an additional 474 athletes to the games.
The game are scheduled for July 24 – August 9, 2020.
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be held August 25 – September 6, 2020.