After the IFSC presented their bid in August this year, sport climbing has today been proposed as an additional event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games by the Tokyo 2020 Additional Event Programme Panel. Sport climbing was one of eight sports shortlisted by the panel in August, and today skateboarding, surfing, baseball/softball, sport climbing and karate were named as the final five sports which have been recommended for inclusion.

Upon announcement of the chosen sports, Marco Scolaris, IFSC President commented:

“It is a great honor to have been chosen. We thank the Tokyo 2020 Additional Event Programme Panel for this fantastic opportunity and the recognition within the Olympic Movement. Of course, there is still a long way to go, and all of us at the IFSC are deeply committed to meeting the challenges ahead. Together with our athletes and the National Federations, we are reaching new heights."

The IFSC will now undertake the necessary steps to give climbing the best chances for selection before the final decision is made at the 129th IOC Session in Rio in August 2016.

The British Mountaineering Council's Competitions Officer Rob Adie explained the situation further and told UKC:

“Now the Tokyo organizing committee have made their nominations it’s up to the IOC to decide on which sports will be admitted to the games in 2020 - fitting them into their 310 event and 10,500 athlete limits as set out in their ‘Agenda 2020’. 306 medals (as of Rio 2016) are already allocated so theoretically that only leaves room for 4 more medals i.e. 2 more sports (male and female in each) or 4 events from a single sport, unless the IOC decide to up the number of events at 2020. It's exciting times for sports climbing as they only require 2 events and a small number of athletes and perfectly embody the Olympic motto of higher, faster, stronger!”