World Skateboarding Federation President’s Response to Today’s Tokyo Olympic Committee Announcement Proposing Skateboarding for 2020 Olympic Games

(Kimberley, South Africa — September 28, 2015) Today, the Tokyo Olympic Committee announced that they are proposing that skateboarding will be one of two new sports to be added to the 2020 Olympics Games. The following is a statement from Tim McFerran, president of World Skateboarding Federation regarding today’s announcement.

“WSF is pleased about the exciting and positive news coming out of Tokyo to include Skateboarding in the 2020 Olympics and we are hopeful that it will win final approval by the IOC next year. WSF has been active around the world promoting and organizing skateboarding and highlighting the positives that skateboarding brings to communities.  World Skateboarding Federation has grown from the idea of providing social development and leadership to skateboarders and governments on a global basis, to an organization with almost 4000 members representing 92 countries and sanctioning over 60 contests in all disciplines of skateboarding including Street, Vert, Bowl, Slalom, Park, Downhill and Freestyle.  In the short time since our establishment, we have been overwhelmed by the continuous stream of applications we are getting to join our group on a daily basis.  We have received praise from numerous governmental and private organizations in countries from all over the world about the positive impact WSF has had in the lives of youth.  We have had constant contact and very positive conversations with members of the IOC about how skateboarding can have a positive impact on the 2020 Olympic games and the youth of the world and are extremely grateful to be invited to take part in this process.  WSF is actively working with many national federations and government agencies around the world to provide leadership and guidance to ensure a very positive experience for all skateboarders and their fans at the games. We want to thank the Tokyo 2020 committee for their recommendation and hope the IOC will give skateboarding this opportunity when they bring it to a final vote next year.  I have personally been  involved in the biggest contests in skateboarding since 2008 and I am pleased that this news comes out just prior to the Skateboarding World Championships (7-10 October), where the best skateboarders in the world will compete in Kimberley, South Africa, for the largest prize purse in skateboarding.  Many of these competitors will likely represent their countries in the 2020 Olympics if it gets voted in by the IOC and WSF is proud to have played a role in the process.”