(ATR)IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell tells Around the Rings he expects no issues with the current setup to run skateboarding at Tokyo 2020.
Skateboarding was one of five sports added to the Tokyo 2020 program today. Baseball/softball, karate, sport climbing, and surfing were elected to the program as well, after a unanimous decision from the 129th IOC Session.
The International Roller Sports Federation (FIRS) will be tasked with running the competition and anti-doping procedures in and before the Olympic Games. Upon consideration from the IOC, a commission was set up to include other bodies currently involved with running world skateboarding competitions to assist FIRS for Olympic organization.
One of those bodies is the International Skateboarding Federation, run by president Gary Ream. Currently, the federation is subject of a lawsuit from the World Skateboarding Federation challenging the status of the body as an appropriate organizer. The lawsuit says the ISF skirted anti-doping protocols, openly allowed drugs and alcohol at events, and maintained a personal relationship with IOC Executive Director Christophe Dubi creating a conflict of interest.
The ISF refused to comment to ATR about the lawsuit. McConnell said, lawsuit or not, they were continuing to support the ISF’s position on the commission organizing the Olympic competition.
"I think we’ve been very clear; we’re very confident with the structures and with the involvement with the people on the commission and we’re looking forward to moving forward on that basis," McConnell said to ATR. "I think if we can focus on the sport and the engagement on that it will be a fantastic thing for the sport and everyone to seize this opportunity. Like all the sports here they have proven a passion, it is a sport that allows us to engage directly with that youth, and we are sure they will deliver in Tokyo 2020."
FIRS president Sabatino Aracu remained upbeat about the decision and unworried by the troubles around the ISF. He told ATR that FIRS is excited to handle the workload of being on the Olympic program and will work rigorously to deliver international anti-doping standards to the sport of skateboarding.
"The Olympic Games is very important to our dream and we want to put our effort in demonstrating to the world we are a fantastic federation," Aracu said. "In the future, why not [have more disciplines in the Games]. We want to go forward."
Ream was in Rio to witness the vote for skateboarding, and said that he believes it will be the standout event of the Tokyo 2020 Games. He deferred questions about the federation’s capacity to handle Olympic organizations saying the expertise on the competition commission spoke for itself.
"I think it’s a very, very good choice by the IOC," Ream told reporters. "I think skateboarding brings an element to the Games that is youth relevance that is global. Skateboarding marries lifestyle sports with creative arts it is all connecting. If you think about skateboarding, and if you look at the pros, they are world class athletics. It is magical."
Ream would not comment on anti-doping questions as the ISF is not an IOC recognized federation.
The International Skateboarding Federation currently has 29 national federations with another 12 pending approval according to its website. ISF president Gary Ream led the initiative to make skateboarding an Olympic event at the Tokyo 2020 Games along with arguably the most recognizable and influential skateboarder from the U.S. Tony Hawk as the vice president.
Prior to the IOC vote, there has been much debate over which governing body for skateboarding should be responsible for organizing the event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The World Skateboarding Federation and the International Federation of Roller Sports (FIRS) were involved in negotiations to determine which federation would be in charge of the sport in the Olympics.
More information about the ISF can be found on its website here.
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro and Kevin Nutley in Atlanta
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