The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will features five new Olympic sports. The sports to be added to the current Olympic roster are baseball/softball, karate, skateboarding, sports climbing and surfing.
Not all of the sports added to the 2020 Games will be making their Olympic debut. Baseball/softball were played as recently as the 2008 Beijing Games. Karate will be making its Olympic debut in its country of origin, and will have six kumite and two kata demonstration categories. Sports climbing will feature two categories, bouldering and a combined lead and speed.
The addition of these sports comes after the 2014 International Olympic Committee ruling to end the 28-sport cap for the Summer Games. The additional sports will add 18 more medals and an estimated 500 new athletes to the 2020 Olympic Games.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- New Olympic Sports
- The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will feature five new sports which will add 18 more medals and an estimated 500 new athletes to the games.
- Extreme Sports
- Three of the new Olympic sports - skateboarding, sports climbing and surfing - cater to fans of extreme sports, signifying a growing trend in the sports industry.
- Expansion of Olympic Roster
- The 2014 International Olympic Committee's decision to end the 28-sport cap for the Summer Games has paved the way for new sports to be added to the roster in the future.
Where This Applies
- Sports
- The addition of new Olympic sports creates opportunities for athletes, coaches, equipment manufacturers, and sponsors in the sports industry.
- Broadcasting
- With new sports being added, broadcasters and streaming platforms have an opportunity to showcase these events to a wider audience, leading to potential new advertising and sponsorship revenue streams.
- Travel and Tourism
- The inclusion of new sports in the Olympic Games may increase tourism to the host city and create new travel packages for fans.
