Surfing Celebrates 4 Years of Olympic Inclusion

4 years ago today Surfing was voted for inclusion in the  2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

The International Surfing Association (ISA) today celebrates the four year anniversary since Surfing was voted for inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The vote took place on August 3, 2016 at the 129th IOC Session during the 2016 Rio Games.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre, who led Surfing’s campaign for Olympic inclusion for decades, was present to witness the historic moment. Also in attendance to recognize the important occasion was two-time World Surf League (WSL) Champion and ISA Junior World Champion Gabriel Medina.

Today ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:

“It is wonderful to take a moment to celebrate the day in which Surfing’s century-old dream of Olympic inclusion was finally realized. It started with Duke’s original request for Surfing’s Olympic inclusion in 1920 and culminated with this 22-year ISA paddle to catch the Olympic Wave. 

“I remember that day in 2016 like it was yesterday. It was pure bliss. I imagine that Duke was smiling down on us. 

“No one can cross the ocean of life alone, and I give great thanks to my family, the ISA team, all our supporters, and the global Surfing community as a whole for coming together to achieve this lofty goal. We turned the once thought impossible, into the possible and eventually, into the inevitable.

“We are now in a new era of Surfing and the Olympic Games. We are eager to show the world the value, youth, and lifestyle that the sport will bring to Tokyo 2020. 

“August 3, 2016 will forever be remembered as a game-changing moment not just for Surfing, but the overarching world of sport.”  

https://www.isasurf.org