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Sport Climbing Selected for 2018 Youth Olympic Games

© UKC News
Natalie Berry UKC

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that Sport Climbing (lead, bouldering and speed climbing) will join the programme of events in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, alongside Dance Sport and Karate. The news comes just months after Sport Climbing was selected as a new event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (UKC News Report).

Youth Olympic Games 2018 © UKC News
Youth Olympic Games 2018

The IOC gave the following explanation for their choice of the three sports:

'The three new sports reflect the IOC’s and Buenos Aires 2018’s shared goal of building youth engagement, and thus represent a mix of emerging, universal and urban sports with a significant youth appeal.'

The Youth Olympic Games was established with the aim of fostering youth participation in sport and acting as a springboard for the Olympic Games, with the first event being held in the summer of 2010 in Singapore. Sport Climbing was demonstrated at the previous Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, in 2014. The Sport Climbing event in Buenos Aires will serve as a teaser for the main Games in 2020. 

International Federation of Sport Climbing President Marco Scolaris commented:

'In the last months after Rio, far from the lights, we have worked hard on this and here is the result. We are very, very happy that Sport Climbing will also be included in the programme in Buenos Aires at the Youth Olympic Games in 2018. Thanks to all the IFSC Team who supported this new climb and achievement. Keep climbing!'

In addition to this announcement, the venue for Sport Climbing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has also been confirmed this week. The Organising Committee issued a statement:

'Sport Climbing events will take place in Aomi Urban Sports Venue (Koto ward, Tokyo). This temporary facility will be the dynamic and innovative venue for the sport climbing and skateboarding competitions, Tokyo 2020’s newest and most youthful events. Situated in a spectacular location with Tokyo Bay as a backdrop, it will delight athletes, spectators and television viewers alike throughout the world.'

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Comments

1poundSOCKS
8 Dec, 2016
So the IOC have already redefined the term "Sport Climbing". It's started... :(
Lemony
8 Dec, 2016
It makes a lot more sense to refer to refer to climbing-as-competitive-sport as sport climbing than outdoor-non-competitive-climbing-which-only-uses-bolts-but-not-bolted-mountain-routes-or-where-the-bolts-are-too-far-apart as sport climbing.
john arran
8 Dec, 2016
I think we have the IFSC to blame for that. Or rather the UIAA for stupidly allowing them to get away with it. In any case that boat sailed years ago.
1poundSOCKS
8 Dec, 2016
But that isn't the whole story. If you go "Sport Climbing" now, it's mandatory to add bouldering and speed into your day. :)
3leggeddog
8 Dec, 2016
I am not sure whether this is a step forward or backwards. The criteria create a whole new class of athlete, one who excels at all three disciplines, as opposed to today's specialists, progress? Or it creates strong all rounders, just like in the old days, regression? Whatever the case, it is far, far divorced from me and my mates going climbing for the fun of it. A bit like comparing Lewis Hamilton to a drive to the shops.
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