Surfing gets one step closer to permanent Olympic inclusion

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

With the recent news that the Paris 2024 Olympics would hold their surfing event in the ocean, you could be forgiven for thinking its inclusion was a foregone conclusion. Yet it's not, when surfing was promoted to Olympic status it was only for the forthcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

To get a seat at the 2024 games, surfing must first be provisionally included on the list of Olympic sports, and secondly be ratified by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

That last step will only happen after the Tokyo Olympics are completed, however news overnight saw surfing included on the provisional list for Paris. It joined sport climbing, skateboarding, and breakdancing as the newest sports to push for inclusion.

“The four sports that Paris has proposed are all totally in line with Olympic Agenda 2020 because they contribute to make the programme more gender balanced and more urban, and offer the opportunity to connect with the younger generation,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.

“The proposed sports are in line with these principles and enhance Paris 2024’s overall dynamic Games concept, which focuses on inclusivity, inspiring a new audience, and hosting socially responsible Games.”

Surfing will vie with breakdancing for the attention of an urban, gender-balanced, younger-generation

The final announcement will be made in December 2020 once the Olympic Commitee has "officially observed" the performance of surfing at the Tokyo games. Surfing will be held in the unique grey water waves of Shidashita Beach, an hour outside of Tokyo.

Naturally, Fernando Aguerre, head of the ISA, was estatic: "This is another amazing day for Olympic Surfing, as we move one step closer to Paris 2024 and long-term Olympic inclusion."

“Surfing is a sport for the new era of the Games, a sport that is truly ‘Made For Sharing’ in line with Paris 2024 values. Surfing combines high-performance action with a connection to the environment, sustainability and self-improvement. Surfing aligns perfectly with Paris 2024 and the Olympic values and we’re proud to have the chance to continue our journey with the IOC."

“On behalf of the entire Surfing community, I would like to thank all involved in today’s decision.”

Comments

garyg1412's picture
garyg1412's picture
garyg1412 Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 10:44am

Breakdancing??? That'll be riveting!!!
Shows how insignificant the Olympics has become.
No offence to any breakdancers.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 12:33pm

None taken Gary.

garyg1412's picture
garyg1412's picture
garyg1412 Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 12:41pm

You got some moves you can show us then Zen???

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 12:42pm

Maybe without the sarong.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 12:58pm

Baby-swipe into Airflare, 2-step drop to freeze.

Not a dry eye in the house.

Gra Murdoch's picture
Gra Murdoch's picture
Gra Murdoch Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 10:58am

Hip hop chop hop don't stop

ron's picture
ron's picture
ron Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 11:05am

Lets wait and see what the reaction is when chiba is 1 foot and damn near unsurfable. Potential to be the joke of the whole olympics. I'm not a pool fan but they should have gone that route. We know France has waves but is it in summer? Could go the same way. Surfing can never be a permanent inclusion in the ocean. Even if it was in Melbourne you cant promise waves in summer.

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 12:14pm

On the flip side, the same was said about the Quiksilver Pro in New York, and they scored unreal out-of-season surf. So, it can't be ruled out.

memlasurf's picture
memlasurf's picture
memlasurf Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 2:39pm

Yes that was remarkable when you look back on it, and so was the look on the people on the board walk which was akin to them looking at animals in a zoo. And look how many times they have been back there! What I can't work out is why the pro surfers are falling over themselves to get involved. Kelly seems super hot to trot on this which seems weird to me except I suppose he has a burning desire to be taken seriously as a mainstream 'Athlete'. I got into surfing for the complete opposite reason after really not jelling with the restrictive structures and people telling you what to do in footy, cricket, tennis, etc.

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 3:21pm

not out of season, thats prime hurricane season for east coast America.

ron's picture
ron's picture
ron Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 3:27pm

cant rule it out but sure as hell wouldnt bet on it. Half the time the WSL has 2 weeks in prime season and gets shit surf.

The way the olympics run pools would be the only way unless they made the surfing mobile world wide somehow.

scottishsponger's picture
scottishsponger's picture
scottishsponger Sunday, 30 Jun 2019 at 7:00am

Melbourne has no waves in winter either. It’s not even on the coast. The best you can hope for is horrific wind chop on the SE “beaches”.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 3:29pm

Also early typhoon season for Japan.

They should get waves in Chiba that time of the year. Good chance they'll get a pretty decent swell over the Olympic period. Only thing is how many heats are they going to have to run to complete an Olympic contest in relation to a CT event?

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 4:38pm

That photo is so perfect for this article.

velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno's picture
velocityjohnno Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 5:35pm

Looks like the fellow in the white hat is doing a flat bag on the thighs of the fellow with the afro

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 6:19pm

I was surprised they dug that photo up, we were so young then. (I'm the guy in the headband).

Next to me is Hairy Balzac, he's now a dentist, the guy in the white hat is Toprock rockit and now manages a Taro-cash store at Westfield Brookside (he was the stylish one of the group and always charmed the ladies). The short fella is Well bello Z-ro, he's put on a few pounds but now has his own successful carpet cleaning business and works part-time as an Uber driver. The lovely lady is Jenny Talia aka Fresh Meet b-girl, her poppin' was out of this world. Sadly, she's thrice divorced with six kids and works part-time as a cocktail waitress at Spearmint Hippo. She likes to hit the pole from time to time for old times sake. She's still looking for her dream. Lastly, that's Five-stretch. We don't know much about him but last we heard, he was on his third consecutive prison term for exposing himself to the dementia patients at the retirement home where he worked. We always thought he wasn't too bright because he'd smile into the cc-tv camera as he did it.

Thanks for the memories Swellnet, good times.

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 6:47pm

Zen , I don’t know where this is coming from ....but I like it.

Time to Mr Sheen the Lino , brother

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 6:59pm

Ha! good times Blowy.

Just after that we got arrested for fare evasion and public nuisance. Again, Five-stretch exposed himself to the cc-tv in the watch-house. (maybe a sign of things to come).

Little known fact, the kid in the suit is Jennys first husband.

mr mick's picture
mr mick's picture
mr mick Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 8:02pm

HaHa, very funny Zen. Years later didn't they make a comeback & put flower pots on their heads & call themselves DEVO?

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 8:14pm

Actually Mick it was lampshades and we called ourselves DEVOID.

After a disastrous debut (we did get to number 32 in Belarus) we broke up and went our separate ways.

I do look back on those days fondly though and the wife sometimes gets me to bust out the vinyl for those special occasions. (i think she likes it cause the bum cheeks are worn out).

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 5:28pm

Good call Stu it's important to observe [P] Plates until Dec' full license.
Surfing can still choose to pull out as a growing number of surfers wish...

Olympic dream is proving a nightmare for surfing.
Olympics brand surfers as cattle class, soiling their red white 'n' blue podium.

(Tokyo Olympic Pricing)
$20-$30 Keyrings
$40 { Surfing Gold Medal ticket } or Tokyo's Cheapest Haircut / Sit down lunch plate.
$45 Cheapest (small) plush Mascot
$50 Cheapest Olympic T Shirt
$1440 {Swimming Gold Medal Ticket} (Trading price) = 36x greater than Surfing.
[City event comparison] GC C'Games Aquatics $40m vs GC WSL Comp $3m/yr

(tbb backwash)
tbb swims out for $1440 & combos barrel rolls & full air rotations back in for $40.
Note all Olympic athletes combined can't pull off one barrel roll with $40 billion.
tbb feels he's been kicked further down the line...(Gee! Thanx surf mobsters!)

(Wavepool Arena)
ICF v ISA World War rules out joint eco Aquatic complex to capitalize on Olympics.
WSL are hellbent flooding wavepool wastewater to flush out climate change Groms.
Surfing's new Gold Medal Pool Kiosk podium gets framed by chalk board menu.
Dolphins.Rainbows,Volcanoes won't sway,Medal backdrops,all the same everyday.

(Competition)
Olympic Pro qualifiers are surfing off in WSL Pro series corrupting both formats.
Olympic {US v Hawaii} Bi-nation knockout Cup, bullies WSL Jeep leaderboard.
WSL Pros least know to surf for pride,gold or bucks.('As for Hawaiians! Who cares?')

(Surfing Culture)
Olympics denounce Surfing's roots by wiping out Pacific Island Surf Nations.
Pacific Island Surf Nations may yet lose proud right to fly their WSL National Flags.
Current #1 must surf for Big Brother & upset Hawaiians ("Hello Lifeline Hotline!")
Everything is corrupting everything that surfing worked so hard to keep clear of!

(Grom Beachbums are our future)
All hail the Grecian Olympic athletes monumental fountain of eternal youth.
https://cultura.estadao.com.br/blogs/marcelo-rubens-paiva/wp-content/upl...
The Beach Volleyball Colleseum (WH listed ruins) Olympic ideal or world plague?

(Surfing Spirit is alive!)
Surfing needs to revitalize such a facility with an integrated Wavetool approach.
Surfing presents natural sporting ideal exhibit to Olympic host as an everlasting gift .
Abandoning front row seats to hot mess the masses get a taste of the real thing.
We Surfers can win over sporting fans our way...but never by selling out.

Don't mess with Huey [WARNING] Olympic size Tsunami ~~^~~~/(~~~/(C...

dimdim's picture
dimdim's picture
dimdim Wednesday, 26 Jun 2019 at 7:00pm

"Made For Sharing ". Just like The Pass.

Laurie McGinness's picture
Laurie McGinness's picture
Laurie McGinness Thursday, 27 Jun 2019 at 8:06am
belly's picture
belly's picture
belly Thursday, 27 Jun 2019 at 9:32am

Is skateboarding in the Olympics? Makes more sense to me than surfing, ie see snowboarding. I think the men's halfpipe (sorry ladies) has become one of the more prestigious / higher rating events.

Terminal's picture
Terminal's picture
Terminal Friday, 28 Jun 2019 at 6:04pm

Yeah I think they are going to give skateboarding a go. I don't know how the unindoctrinated general public are gonna be able to tell the difference between a switch backside noseblunt slide revert vs. a McTwist on vert, though, let alone comprehend what move is more difficult...

Shaggydagz's picture
Shaggydagz's picture
Shaggydagz Thursday, 27 Jun 2019 at 10:11am

Twerking has made it into the Oxford dictionary, only a matter of time until it's in the Olympics...

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Thursday, 27 Jun 2019 at 11:30am

Actually we invented twerking.

Came about when I got a green ant in my pants while camping at Lake Conjola.

Grub Screws's picture
Grub Screws's picture
Grub Screws Friday, 28 Jun 2019 at 4:18pm

I'm getting an image of Australia's olympic breakdancer, adidas tracky, chunky necklace, and razor cuts in his eyebrow bunking up with an equestrian rider, or table tennis player, or decathlete.

memlasurf's picture
memlasurf's picture
memlasurf Friday, 28 Jun 2019 at 4:25pm

Grub you shouldn't go there.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Friday, 28 Jun 2019 at 5:00pm

All three at once Grub.

But if I had to choose, I'd take the Equestrian rider.

Giddy up!

Grub Screws's picture
Grub Screws's picture
Grub Screws Friday, 28 Jun 2019 at 5:11pm

Filthy minds, the lot of yers.

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Saturday, 29 Jun 2019 at 9:03am


&feature=youtu.be
(Re:Blowin's clip)Thanx!

"The Swellnet Crew Rap"

garyg 1412 don't like footwear
zenagain likes to float on air.
stunet always takes us there

Uprock /Sureshot
Never stop the body rock / I'm Stuck..
(Really Guys!)...I'm Stuck!

GM fanfares a pair
ron keeps shifting his deckchair
thermalben snares his swivel chair

Hey You Swellnet Crew
Show what you can do.

Memlasurf warns don't go there
freeride 76 says just beware
Blowin comes flying round the stair

Uprocking / Uprock / Never Stop
Never Stop the Body Rock / I'm Stuck!
If you need a Buck let's Disco Duck.

Velocityjohnno's flatbag dare
mr mick hides his wavy hair
tbb jump starts his electric chair

Can you surf like the crew
Can you poo a number two.
I'm Stuck & Me too!
Now we're really in the Poo!

dim dim passes his fair share
LMG conjures up a magic square
belly's half pipe floats away unaware

Make a break / Make a Move
Hey You Swellnet Crew
Mind you don't step in the Poo

Terminal scrapes his wear'n'tear
Shaggydagz twerks his questionnaire
Grub Screws needs stronger underwear

Swellnet Crew
Showed you what to do
When you skid in your Poo
Neverstop / Uprock
tbb senses Aftershock

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Saturday, 29 Jun 2019 at 1:56am

My goodness TBB, you're a modern day James Joyce.

Pure stream of consciousness?

Mate, you're a bloomin' flash-flood.

Don't change whatever you do- the world will be poorer for it if you do.

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Friday, 17 Mar 2023 at 1:44am

We finally got some movement on this front...
2028 LA Olympics 3 peat (Don't ask...it's a thing now!)

When Qld bid for 2032 Olympics > Yes! tbb can confirm Premier & even Sally stoked Gold Coast.
Global Surf Market have been ever locking in Qld Olympic 2032 Surfing.
Every Wave Pool salesman already sold Qld 2032 Surfing before filling their tubs!

Only problem being...Olympic Surfing was only ever a 3 peat Exhibition.
ISA have since lobbied for LA long board + Reckon they burped or farted about Qld...maybe!

tbb recently shared "Meanjin Games 2032 News" Surfing.
2032 First time Surfing is included as "Official Sport"
Hosted by Gold Coast - 4 events Bodyboard > Short /Long Board > SUP.
https://www.thebrisbaneolympics.com.au/sports/surfing-at-the-2032-brisba...

Ok! Meanjin = Brisbane but still no one's buying that Headline!
But it still don't explain the bizarre detail...like where they fish out that rare gem?

16 March 2023 (Today!) Qldurr tbb can share the latest "Official news on 2032 Olympic Surfing"
Sunny News / Steele Taylor actually asked the Question?

* Widely assumed Surfing was locked into 2032 Sunshine State Games
* Surfing hasn't been pencilled in as a 2032 Sport
* Olympic Surfing Venue has not been assigned

Replies...
~ 2032 Organising Committee would talk to officials from the sport.
~ We understand many Sports want in & we'll talk with each at right time!

Sunny Pro Tour Surfer / Lifeguard Shane Bevan :
Speaks about Goldie & Sunny Olympics + Wave Pool as a second / Back up Sunny option.

tbb agrees a wave pool affords endless options.
Whitewater Course / Wave Pool could host several am/pm Sports - Kayak > Surfing > Life Saving
Whitewater Course Wave Power is more than enough to combo stoke'n'shape up Comp Waves.
Peak Hour Night options times with highly rated Swimming / Diving Finals.
am/pm Wave Pool Combo pools 2 extra Surf sports + then accommodates another Oz Sport!

Surfing's 'Sell Out' question still remains the same...
Should 2032 Surfing be am/pm or even pool compliant to help anchor it's Olympic ideal!
Less so about the Pool but entertaining Night Surfing option to survive in competitive games arena.
tbb is still hinting 2023 Ranch CT will likely run day/night > Heats/Finals for primetime viewers!

Coz Anyhow woteva...the LA Olympic finalists are riding the last Wave in...unless Wot!

https://www.sunshinecoastnews.com.au/2023/03/16/could-sunshine-coast-hos...