Surfing at the Summer Olympics will make its debut in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. After several attempts for inclusion at the Olympics, the International Surfing Association has become successful in getting surfing included in the 2020 Games.
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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.
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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.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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