Tokyo 2020 14/05/2015

Consistent with the recommendation # 10 of the International Olympic Committee's Agenda 2020, a process to evaluate several new events for their inclusion into the Tokyo Olympics is currently underway.

The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee has formally opened the application process for additional event(s) to be added to the Games of the XXII Olympiad. The final choice of the event(s) made by Tokyo 2020 will be put forward to IOC by September 30^th.

A newly established Tokyo 2020 Additional Programme Panel will work over the next four months to identify one or more additional events to propose to the IOC. The following key principles will apply to the examinations of all the applications:

• The additional event(s) must promote the Olympic Movement and values with a particular focus on the youth.
• The additional event(s) should add value to the Games by engaging new global audiences, reflect the Tokyo 2020 vision, and engage the Japanese population.
• The selection procedure will be fair and open.

The application process will have two separate phases.

The first phase deals with response forms, which include a set of questions being sent to IOC recognised International Federations (IFs) with sports currently not on the Olympic Programme. Also, IOC Recognised IFs that are not exclusively practiced on ice and snow. Those IOC Recognised IFs, who are interested in having their events considered for inclusion, are invited to return completed applications by June 8^th.

Each application will be examined by the members of the Additional Event Program Panel. They shall ensure that each application complies with the essential principles set forth. A shortlist of event(s) and IFs will be determined for further detailed consideration. The successful applicants will be informed and invited to take part in Phase II, which will start on June 22^nd.

The second phase will deal with the submission of further detailed information from the shortlisted event(s) and IFs. In early August, a presentation will be given to the Additional Event Programme Panel that will take place in Tokyo. The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee will hear the recommendations of the panel before making a final decision on those that will be proposed to the IOC. The IOC will make their final decision at the 129^th IOC Session in August of 2016 in Rio.

The WDSF National Member Body for Japan, the Japan Dance SportFederation, presented DanceSport as a possible Tokyo 2020 candidate to members of the Japanese Olympic Committee and to the national press in early March (photo above).