Surfing is probably safe. Photo: ISA
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry warned of major changes to come to the Games’ sports program. At a keynote speech on Tuesday, Coventry warned that “uncomfortable” slashes to longstanding sports could be on the horizon.
“(These discussions) are essential if we are to keep the Games strong for generations to come,” she said.
Surfing, which was included in the Olympics in a one-off basis in 2020, 2024, and 2028, still has an uncertain future beyond the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. However, all signs indicate that surfing is safe, perhaps one of the safest bets to continue on the program for Brisbane 2032.
Surfing and Australia’s Gold Coast go hand in hand. No other sport aligns more with the culture and image of the region. Since the sweeping reforms by former IOC President Thomas Bach known as Agenda 2020, the host city has more power to select sports. The Brisbane organizing committee will have a say in what sports they want. That bolds well for surfing.
Plus, Coventry noted that attracting young audiences is still a central focus. Surfing was included in the 2020 Games – with sport climbing and skateboarding – as an antidote to aging audience demographics. Dropping surfing now would feel counterproductive.
That said, being one of the new youth sports does not grant immunity. An article in The Australian named sport climbing along with modern pentathlon, archery, boxing, and equestrian as sports that could be facing elimination when the discussions open up for debate. The same article claims that surfing, considered a Paris 2024 success, is a strong candidate to be included in 2032.
In September, Coventry created working groups under the name “Fit For The Future” to recommend changes to the Games. One of those groups was tasked with the sports program, creating a balance between the number of athletes, sport relevance, and pathways to add or remove sports.
Coventry says the goal is to confirm the 2032 sports program by the end of 2026. It’s believed that the total athlete count will be limited to around 11,000. Given LA 2028 added five new sports – flag football, squash, lacrosse, baseball/softball, and cricket – the athlete quota is slightly higher, around 11,200.
LA 2028 adding five sports shows how host cities have room to negotiate. So even after the final sports program for 2032 is announced at the end of the year, there can still be wiggle room to add new disciplines, such as longboard surfing, which the International Surfing Association has spent years lobbying for.
