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Five sports - skateboarding, surfing, karate, sports climbing and baseball/softball  - have moved a step closer to being included in the program of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo after being described as "a dynamic and exciting" package by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Recommended for inclusion by the IOC, an Olympic program commission report released on Friday said the five are a blend of the traditional and emerging, youth-focused events, and all have international and local appeal.

The IOC will make the final decision on the five sports in Rio de Janeiro on 3rd August, two days before the opening ceremony of the 2016 Games.

In assessing the case for inclusion, the commission considered gender equality, youth appeal and their legacy value.

The inclusion of the new sports would add 18 events and 474 athletes, with equal numbers of women and men for all sports except baseball/softball, because softball teams have 15 players, while baseball teams have 24.

The report said the new sports in Tokyo would not threaten the inclusion of existing Olympic sports or be binding on future host cities.

Baseball and softball, which are making a combined bid to return, were dropped after the 2008 Beijing Games. Their hopes for inclusion are boosted by their popularity in Japan.

3rd June 2016 - IOC RECOMMENDS FIVE SPORTS INCLUSION AT TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS

29th April 2016 - TOKYO 2020 UNVEILS SUMMER OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES EMBLEMS

16th October 2015 - SKATEBOARDERS PETITION AGAINST OLYMPIC INCLUSION

13th October 2015 - SPORT INCLUDED IN UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT GOALS

28th September 2015 - TOKYO OLYMPICS ORGANISERS CALL FOR FIVE MORE SPORTS FOR 2020 GAMES

22nd January 2014 - WAVEGARDEN TECHNOLOGY TO REVOLUTIONISE ARTIFICIAL SURFING

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