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Touchline issue 24 | September 2016 | 33
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted unanimously
in August to include skateboarding in the 2020 Summer Games
in Tokyo.
The vote, which took place during the 129th IOC Session in Rio
de Janeiro, was the culmination of a lengthy campaign to bring
skateboarding to the Olympics. The Fédération Internationale
Roller Sports (FIRS) was behind skateboarding’s bid, though
the World Skateboarding Federation (WSF) and International
Skateboarding Federation (ISF) have both argued that they
should oversee skating in the Games. In a lawsuit filed earlier
this year, the WSF alleged that the ISF failed to test skaters
for drugs at contests it sanctioned and that it offered favours
to an IOC official to block its rival from Olympic negotiations,
accusations the IOC called baseless.
Olympic skateboarding will operate under the oversight of
the Tokyo 2020 Skateboarding Commission, which consists of
chairman Gary Ream, president of the ISF; Simone Masserini,
executive director of the FIRS; and Neal Hendrix, pro skater
and ISF athlete representative.
The Olympic contests will include men’s and women’s park
and street events, with a total of 80 skaters—40 men and 40
women—competing in them. The IOC expects skating to draw
a younger audience to the Games.
Skateboarding was one of five sports added to the Olympic
programme, together with sport climbing, karate, baseball/
softball, and surfing. The 2020 Summer Olympics will take
place in Tokyo from July 24 to August 9.
SKATEBOARDING ADMITTED TO OLYMPICS
Sauber has secured its immediate future as a Formula One
team following a takeover by a Longbow Finance, based in
Switzerland. Founder Peter Sauber is retiring from his position
as chairman.
With a 23-year history of competing in Formula One, Sauber
had been under financial pressure in recent times.
This year, they sit bottom of the Constructors’ standings, with
drivers Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr unable to secure a
point between them.
It will retain the Sauber name going forward.
SAUBER TO CONTINUE IN F1