Next year, all eyes will be set on Tokyo, as they prepare to host the most anticipated Summer Olympics in modern history.  While many Olympic fans and hopeful spectators will be curiously tuned in to learn what the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) and the Tokyo Organizing Committee’s (TOCOG) plan of action and response will be towards the current world-wide pandemic, others will be tuning in to watch some of most exciting sport competitions in the world including five new sports which will debut in 2021 at the Tokyo Summer Games.

Sports, such as Gymnastics, Swimming, and Athletics historically tend to be the most sought-after tickets at every Summer Olympics, but next Summer, fans will have a few more options when deciding which events to watch or attend.    During the Summer of 2021, five new sports will make their debut at the Tokyo Summer Games.  This will make the decisions of spectators of which events to watch or attend more difficult than ever before because the newly added sports may be the coolest additions made to any recent Olympic Games.  Afterall, organizers have added these events with a goal of making the games more “youthful and vibrant.” 

Want to learn about the Olympic ticket process?  Click here.

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SURFING

Event Location and Venue: Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach located in Chiba (over 600,000 surfers visit this area every year)

Disciplines: Shortboard (Men/Women)

Competition Dates: July 25-28, 2021 (Wave and weather dependent)

Fun Facts: 

• – Athletes will catch waves with short boards that are only around the same height as them.  Tricks will be performed.
• – When a surfer is inside a wave it’s called “tube ride” – one of the most iconic ways to catch a wave.  The longest tube ride ever recorded, according to Surfer Today, was 30 seconds by surfer, Cory Lopez. 

More Info: Tokyo Surfing

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SPORT CLIMBING

Event Location and Venue:  Aomi Urban Sports Park located conveniently close to the Athletes Village in the Aomi Waterfront district.  You’ll enjoy views of the iconic Tokyo Bay.

Disciplines: Combined (Men/Women) – Speed, Bouldering, and Lead

Competition Dates: August 3-6, 2021

Fun Facts: 

• – Discipline Review: Speed Discipline – Fastest up a 15-meter wall; Bouldering Discipline – As many fixed obstacles they can climb and maneuver in 4 minutes.  No Ropes, no practice beforehand; Lead Discipline – Climb as high as they can on a wall measuring more than 15 meters within 6 minutes.
• – Reza Alipour Shenazandifar holds the speed world record for 15m wall at 5.48 seconds.  He set this in 2017.

More Info: Tokyo Sport Climbing

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SKATEBOARDING

Event Location and Venue:  Ariake Urban Sports Park – Located in the Ariake waterfront district.  Cycling events will also take place here.  You’ll have easy access to many other venues.

Disciplines: Park (Men/Women); Street (Men/Women)

Competition Dates: July 25-26, 2021 and August 5-6, 2021

Fun Facts: 

• – Discipline Review: Street Discipline – held on a straight ‘street-like’ course featuring stairs, handrails, curbs, benches, walls and slopes. Tricks are performed.  Park Discipline – held in a hollowed-out course (big bowls) with a series of curves.  Speed is important to perform mid-air tricks.
• – Did you know:  Skateboards originally shaped like a rectangle.  Basically, a plank of wood with wheels attached. 

More Info: Tokyo Skateboarding

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KARATE

Event Location and Venue:  Nippon Budokan – known as the spiritual home of Japanese Martial Arts.

Disciplines: Three weight categories will compete in Kata (Men/Women) and Kumite (Men/Women)

Competition Dates: August 5-7, 2021

Fun Facts: 

• – Discipline Review: Kata is a demonstration of forms while Kumite is two opponents face off in a matted competition
• – Karate is a martial art that originated in Okinawa, Japan during the Ryukyu Dynasty period.  

More Info: Tokyo Karate

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BASEBALL / SOFTBALL

Event Location and Venue:  Yokohama Baseball Stadium and Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium

Disciplines: Baseball (Men); Softball (Women)

Competition Dates: July 21 – August 7, 2021

Fun Facts: 

• – These are more reinstatements than debuts.  Baseball and Softball haven’t been part of the Olympics since Beijing 2008.  USA Softball lost to Japan in the gold medal game at the Beijing Olympics, so team USA will be ready to regain the crown.
• – Baseball was played as a ‘demonstration sport’ at a number of editions of the Games before being adopted as a medal sport at Barcelona 1992.

More Info: Tokyo Baseball and Softball

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WANT TO ATTEND THE GAMES?

Do you want to witness history and attend the Tokyo Olympics during the Summer of 2021?  Maybe the answer is an easy YES!  Or maybe it sounds interesting and it’s on your Bucket List but you don’t know where to start the planning process.  Well, either way, companies like Bucket List Events specialize in travel packages designed to give fans an overall amazing and stress free Olympic experience.  From start to finish you’ll work with a team of individuals who have been entertaining guests at large sporting events and festivals around the world since the early 2000s.  

In Tokyo, you’ll have a variety of hotel packages to choose from including things such as airport meet and greets, roundtrip airport transfers, daily hospitality (including food and drinks), exclusive parties and events, Tokyo excursions, and much more.   When you leave Japan, you’re guaranteed to have experienced both, Tokyo and the Summer Games…something you’ll never forget.  Don’t wait any longer and check out Bucket List Events at www.mybucketlistevents.com for more information about how you can plan your perfect Olympic experience.