The Tokyo 2020 Olympics is the debut stage for four new Olympic sports. Karate, Sport climbing, Surfing, and Skateboarding will officially be featured in the Summer Olympics for the first time.
Additionally, softball and baseball will make an appearance for the first time since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Moreover, 3×3 basketball is a new addition to the existing basketball. And, madison cycling and freestyle BMX will be added to track and BMX cycling respectively. Here’s all about it in detail.
New Olympic Sports: Karate
Judo and taekwondo have been on the Olympic martial arts roster. There are about 80 athletes set to compete across two karate events- kata and kumite. In the kata segment, athletes compete individually and perform ‘katas’ that demonstrate defensive and offensive moments. They will be judged based on speed, strength, balance, and power. However, in the kumite section athletes spar against each other using kicks, punches, and strikes. Moreover, the kumite events will have three weight classes.
Sport Climbing is another addition to the Olympic sports
This new addition to the games will feature three disciples. The sport climbing sport is a combination of speed climbing, lead climbing, and bouldering. The winner will take the gold medal home based on the highest cumulative score. This Olympic sport is very similar to decathlon and heptathlon events. This year, 20 women and 20 men will participate in the sport climbing.
Surfing
A total of participants from 17 different countries will take part in the debut of this new Olympic sport. The event will take place at Shidashita beach, about 40 miles outside Tokyo. Surfers will be using shortboards. Athletes will be scored in their execution, speed, flow, and power. However, only one surfer can ride the wave at a time. As surfers who obstruct their rival’s performance can get a deduction.
The last new sport on this list: Skateboarding
The Tokyo Olympics is set for the grand entrance of both park and street skateboarding. The event will take place at Tokyo’s Ariake Urban Sports Park, a hollowed-out course with a series of curved and steep surfaces. Athletes will be ranked based on the difficulty, originality, and execution of the trick they choose. However, for the street skateboarding event, the height reached will also be taken into account.