New events added to 2018 Winter Games as Tokyo Olympics venue changes get approval

The International Olympic Committee’s executive board has approved new events in snowboarding, freestyle skiing, speedskating and curling for the 2018 winter Olympic Games program in PyeongChang, South Korea.

The changes reflect the continued evolution of the Winter Olympic program and build on the success of recent editions of the Games. They also build on the reforms outlined in Olympic Agenda 2020 which aim to create more flexibility in the programme of the Olympic Games.

Olympic Agenda 2020 has created a new framework of considerations, including the introduction of a recommended cap of approximately 2,900 athletes and 100 events for the Olympic Winter Games. While providing a sustainable model for the hosting and organisation of the Games, this framework also limits the ability of the IOC to support all new event proposals put forward by International Federations.

The new event program for PyeongChang 2018 will allow for a record number of female events, a record number of mixed events, a record number of female athletes, and a projected increase in the overall female participation rates at the Olympic Winter Games, reflecting the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020.

The IOC executive board also approved criteria for the inclusion of one or more additional events on the Olympic program for the Tokyo 2020 Games and another series of cost-cutting venue changes for the Tokyo Olympics.

Japanese organisers said the moves will cut another $700 million from the budget and bring total savings so far to about $1.7 billion.

Venue changes were approved for seven sports: water polo, badminton, fencing, rugby, sailing, taekwondo and wrestling.

Still under discussion is the proposal by Tokyo organisers to move cycling to an existing facility in Izu, about a one-hour train ride from Tokyo. The international cycling federation, the UCI, has resisted the move.

Image shows the main site for the PyeongChang 2018 Games. 

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