The New Zealand Olympic Committee is satisfied that all major New Zealand Olympic sports have secured their spots on the core Olympic programme for 2020. The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today agreed on the 25 sports it will propose to the 125th IOC Session for approval as the core sports for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. The 25 sports are: athletics, rowing, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, football, gymnastics, weightlifting, handball, hockey, judo, swimming, modern pentathlon, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, shooting, archery, triathlon, sailing and volleyball. The EB recommended that wrestling, governed by the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA), not be included on the list of core sports. Wrestling will now join the seven shortlisted sports baseball/softball, karate, roller sports, sport climbing, squash, wakeboarding and wushu vying for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic programme as an additional sport. While disappointing for New Zealand Wrestling and the New Zealand athletes that participate in this ancient sport, it is important to note that todays decision is a recommendation that wrestling be re-examined, said Kereyn Smith, Secretary General of the New Zealand Olympic Committee. The eight sports are scheduled to make presentations to the Executive Board at its meeting in St Petersburg, Russia, in May. The EB will select which of the eight sports to recommend to the 125th IOC Session for inclusion as an additional sport on the 2020 programme. In an effort to ensure the Olympic Games remain relevant to sports fans of all generations, the Olympic Programme Commission systematically reviews every sport following each edition of the Games. Golf and rugby sevens were added in 2009 as additional sports to the 2016 Olympic programme. The 125th IOC Session will take place from 7 to 10 September in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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