Summer Olympics 2020 New Sports: 5 Added [Definitive Guide]

One of the most anticipated Summer Olympics 2020 new sports was Karate, a martial art with deep roots in Japan. For its Olympic debut, Karate featured two distinct disciplines:

• Kata: A solo demonstration of pre-arranged defensive and offensive movements against a virtual opponent. Athletes are judged on technical execution, athletic performance, breathing, strength, focus, rhythm, and speed.
• Kumite: A sparring competition between two athletes. Competitors score points by delivering controlled punches, kicks, and strikes to specific target areas on the opponent's body. There were three weight classes for both men and women in Kumite.

In total, eight medal events were contested, four for men and four for women, across these two compelling disciplines.

After being removed following the 2008 Beijing Games, Baseball (men's) and Softball (women's) made a triumphant return as Summer Olympics 2020 new sports. Both popular in Japan, their re-inclusion was a strategic choice for the host nation. While sharing similar roots, key differences distinguish them:

• Pitching: Softball features underhand pitching, whereas baseball uses overhand pitching.
• Ball Size: A softball is larger than a baseball.
• Field Size: Softball is played on a smaller field compared to baseball.
• Game Length: Softball games typically consist of seven innings, while baseball games traditionally have nine.

This return was a one-off for Tokyo 2020, much to the delight of fans.

Sport Climbing debuted as an exhilarating addition to the Summer Olympics 2020 new sports, combining three distinct disciplines into a single combined event:

• Bouldering: Athletes climb complex routes on lower walls without ropes, focusing on technical skill, strength, and problem-solving.
• Lead Climbing: Competitors climb as high as possible on a tall wall, clipping their rope into quickdraws as they ascend. The goal is to reach the top or the highest point.
• Speed Climbing: Two climbers race side-by-side up a standardized 15-meter wall on identical routes, aiming for the fastest time.

In Tokyo, medals were awarded based on a combined score from all three disciplines, demanding versatility and athleticism from the climbers.

Bringing a vibrant urban edge, Skateboarding premiered as one of the most exciting Summer Olympics 2020 new sports. It featured two disciplines, showcasing different aspects of the sport:

• Street: Athletes navigate a course designed to resemble an urban environment, complete with stairs, handrails, ledges, and benches. They perform a series of tricks, judged on creativity, difficulty, execution, and variety.
• Park: Competitors perform tricks on a hollowed-out course featuring bowls, curves, and ramps. Skaters are evaluated on their flow, amplitude, variety, and the technical difficulty of their aerial maneuvers and grinds.

Both men's and women's events captivated audiences with incredible agility and style.

Surfing made its highly anticipated Olympic debut, with the competition held at Tsurigasaki Beach in Chiba, Japan. This addition to the Summer Olympics 2020 new sports calendar aimed to connect with younger audiences and celebrate a dynamic global culture. The format for Tokyo 2020 was exclusively the shortboard discipline. Competitions were held over multiple days within a 16-day waiting period, allowing organizers to pick the best possible wave conditions. Surfers were judged on:

• Commitment and Difficulty
• Innovative and Progressive Maneuvers
• Combination of Major Maneuvers
• Variety of Maneuvers
• Speed, Power, and Flow

While the Olympics offers a unique platform, surfing already boasts a rich circuit of world-class events, making its inclusion a significant milestone for the sport.