by Our Sports Desk

SURFING looks set to be an Olympic event at the Tokyo 2020 Games after it was one of five extra sports put forward yesterday by organisers.

The other four sports proposed by Tokyo were baseball/softball, karate, skateboarding and sports climbing. If the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gives the go-ahead it will mean an extra 18 events involving an additional 474 athletes.

The IOC has changed its rules to allow Games hosts to propose sports which are popular in their country. Squash also had hopes of being included but those have now been dashed.

International Surfing Association president Fernando Aguerre said: “Tokyo 2020’s announcement is an extraordinary moment for our sport and for the global surfing community.

“Surfing has incredible and growing global appeal, particularly among young people, and we believe that the dynamic energy of the sport and its fans around the world would bring many benefits for Tokyo 2020 and the Games.

“Surfing embodies a cool, playful lifestyle that would add a completely new element to the programme, helping the Games reach new fans through live action and stunning broadcast opportunities.”

Squash was one of three sports initially in the running to make it to 2020 but lost out when wrestling was reinstated.

Professional Squash Association chief executive Alex Gough says the sport should remain positive despite the latest blow to any Olympic aspirations.

He said: “To know that dream is once again out of reach is naturally a difficult proposition for the sport.

“But I feel we can take a lot of positives from the huge ground we have made as a sport over the last decade — transitioning into a burgeoning global sport that is now broadcast in almost 100 countries worldwide and which has witnessed increases in player earnings by over 20 per cent so far in 2015 alone.”