WFDF included in the list of applicant IFs for additional events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

12 June 2015

The World Flying Disc Federation is pleased to announce that it was accepted by the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games as one of 26 International Federation (IF) to be considered in round two as a potential additional sport on the Olympic Programme to be chosen by the hosts at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Recommendation 10 of Olympic Agenda 2020 approved by the IOC in December 2014 allows Organising Committees for the Olympic Games (OCOGs) to make a proposal for the inclusion of one or more additional events on the Olympic Programme for that edition of the Olympic Games. This principle applies for the first time for the 2020 Olympic Summer Games and consequently the Tokyo Organisers had invited all IOC 33 recognised International Federations (IFs) with summer events to submit their application in the first round.

The selection procedure is set out to be fair and open and will conclude after two separate phases. The following key principles apply to the examinations of all the applications made by the Additional Event Program Panel. The additional event(s) should:
•    promote the Olympic Movement and values with a particular focus on youth;
•    add value to the Games by engaging new global audiences,
•    reflect the Tokyo 2020 vision, and
•    engage the Japanese Population.

The now published list of 26 applicant IFs will be examined by the Additional Event Program Panel of Tokyo 2020 based on evaluation criteria which were established by the IOC Executive Board during their meeting on 8 June 2015 as a guideline for OCOGs covering five main themes: Olympic proposal, value added to the Olympic Games, institutional matters, popularity, and business model. Tokyo’s final choice of events to be proposed to the IOC will be made by 30 September 2015. The final decision on which new event will feature in the Olympic Programme of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be made by the 129th IOC Session in Rio de Janeiro in August 2016.

“The World Flying Disc Federation has proudly and gladly accepted the invitation extended by the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to apply for inclusion of a Flying Disc sport at the 2020 Olympic Games as an additional event,” stated WFDF President Robert “Nob” Rauch. “This is a unique opportunity for WFDF, JFDA as our member association and all disc sports in Japan and Flying Disc sports globally. We are confident that we were able to make a compelling proposal given our youth appeal, value added through “spirit of the game,” gender equality, and rapid growth of the sport. We believe our great sport can be a positive contributor to the Olympic Games and are excited about the prospects to be in a dialogue for consideration.”

“We hope that the fantastic World Ultimate and Guts Championships which were successfully staged in 2012 in Sakai were witnessed in Japan as proof of our event quality and noticed by the sporting authorities in Tokyo. The sporting success of Japan’s team, with Team Japan winning the Gold Medal in the Women’s division in Sakai in 2012, speaks for itself. Having our member association Japan Flying Disc Federation (JFDA) getting recognized by the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) last year should also be a positive.”