Squash, Karate among 8 sports shortlisted for 2020 Olympics

The 2020 Olympics could see the inclusion of new sports after the Tokyo Olympics organising committee announced a shortlist of 8 International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognised international federations that are in the race to be included in the multi-event Games.

The federations which have been shortlisted are:

1. Baseball – World Baseball Softball Confederation – WBSC
2. Bowling – World Bowling - WB
3. Karate – World Karate Federation - WKF
4. Roller Sports – International Roller Sports Federation – FIRS
5. Climbing – International Federation of Sport Climbing - IFSC
6. Squash – World Squash Federation - WSF
7. Surfing – International Surfing Association - ISA
8. Wushu – International Wushu Federation – IWUF

By September 2015, the Tokyo Olympics organising committee will select the event(s) and forward its proposal to the IOC for the inclusion of the sport in the 2020 Olympic Games. The IOC will take the final decision in its 129^th session in Rio in August 2016.

The additional event will be chosen keeping in line with these key principles:

• The additional event(s) will serve as a driving force to promote the Olympic Movement and its values, with a focus on youth appeal
• The additional event(s) will add value to the Games by engaging the Japanese population and new audiences worldwide, reflecting the Tokyo 2020 Games vision
• The selection procedure will be open and fair