Snooker Vies for 2020 Olympics

(ATR) Tokyo 2020 tells Around the Rings it has not yet had any contact with snooker’s world governing body, who said a bid for Olympic inclusion has been submitted.

A spokesman for the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) told ATR that a bid was submitted by email on Tuesday.

But Tokyo 2020 communications director Masa Takaya said nothing had been received.

"We haven't been contacted by the federation," he said on Friday.

"So far, we received courtesy visits from karate, squash and baseball & softball. The meetings were informational only and not open to media."

Leaders of the World Squash Federation and World Baseball Softball Confederation promoted their bids in talks with Tokyo 2020 officials in the Japanese capital earlier this week. Karate chiefs met with Olympic organizers two weeks ago.

"We are aware that international federations, which are intending to bid to be included in the 2020 program, are keen to sit together with Tokyo 2020," Takaya told ATR.

"However, the selection process has not been defined yet, and the IOC project review meeting next month will be the first opportunity to discuss the process. We will keep working closely with the IOC and hope to speak more about this item at the earliest possible time."

Tokyo 2020 is allowed to make a proposal for "one or more additional events" as a one-off for the Games, following approval of IOC rule changes for the sports program. Last week, 2020 organizers announced the formation of an "additional event program panel" to determine which new sport or sports will be added to the Games.

Baseball is Japan’s number one sport, making its bid with softball the strong favorite to secure Olympic status.

Billiards sports is a rank outsider to gain a place on the 2020 sports program, despite the WPBSA’s claims of unprecedented global growth and that it should be given the chance "on the ultimate global platform for sport."

"Today we strongly believe that cue sports has a very powerful case for inclusion in the Olympics in Tokyo," said federation chairman Jason Ferguson.

"Snooker alone is watched by nearly half a billion people worldwide and played competitively in over 90 countries. With pool and carom alongside us under the WCBS, we have competition in around 200 countries, making us one of the world's most widely practised sports.

"Olympic participation is part of our global vision and we are committed to seeing our players competing for gold medals on the Olympic stage," he added.

New Tokyo 2020 Commissions

The fifth Executive Board meeting took place today with a decision made for create three new commissions.

They are: urban planning and sustainability; culture and education; and economy and technology. Commission members have yet to be confirmed. Together with the existing athletes and media commissions, they will work to achieve the aims of Tokyo 2020’s vision.

Tokyo 2020 organizers will move to a new headquarters at the end of March.

The majority of staff will move to offices located in Toranomon Hills Mori Tower, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Some Tokyo 2020 departments will remain in the current office in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building to facilitate smooth communications and collaborations with relevant departments of the TMG.

It was also announced today that, as of Jan. 1, the legal status of the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee changed to a Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, following approval by the cabinet Office of the Tokyo government in December.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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