Skateboarding unites in Olympic push

Australia’s brightest skateboarding prospects are gathering in Melbourne for a historic launch of the ‘Skateboard 2020 Commission’ as the sport begins preparing for its Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

In a major boost for the sport’s Olympic progress, peak bodies from Australian sport and skateboarding have come together to form the ‘Skateboard 2020 Commission’ which will provide a consolidated high performance plan ahead of the Tokyo Games.

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) worked hand-in-hand to form the Skateboard 2020 Commission. It will comprise representatives of the AIS, the AOC, Skate Australia, the Australian Skateboard Federation (ASF) and be chaired by NSW Institute of Sport CEO Kevin Thompson.

Thompson believes this is an excellent initiative.

“The inclusion of skateboarding in the Olympic Games is a fantastic opportunity for the sport. This commission will bring together the enviable Olympic experience and expertise we have in Australia to provide the best environment for our talented athletes to win medals” said Thompson.

AOC CEO Matt Carroll said the united effort would give Australia’s skateboarding athletes the best opportunity to compete and succeed in the Olympic environment.

“The fact that the Australian Olympic Committee has allocated one of its four IOC Scholarships to a skateboarding athlete indicates the exciting opportunity we see for skateboarding at the Tokyo Olympics,” Carroll said.

“We thank the organisations for putting the athletes first so the top skateboarders have a selection pathway and performance planning to give them the best opportunity to be on a podium in Tokyo in 2020.”

AIS Director Peter Conde said the establishment of the Skateboard 2020 Commission was an exciting step towards the sport’s Olympic debut.

“Australia has world-class skateboard talent and genuine Olympic medal prospects, so it’s vital that as sporting bodies we have come together to cooperate and give our athletes the best support and direction we can,” Conde said. “The establishment of Skateboard 2020 Commission is about creating strength in partnerships and is a clear signal that Australian sport is collaborating to put the interests of our athletes first.”

Skate Australia President Karen Doyle said: “This is a landmark decision for skateboarding in Australia and sets a global precedent for collaboration and skater support.”

Former Vert World Cup Champion and ASF representative, Renton Millar said: “The consultation with the industry, the expertise within the Commission and the talent of Australian skaters creates the perfect platform for Olympic success.”

The launch in Melbourne has brought together, for the first time, 12 of the country’s top hopefuls together with leading industry experts, many of whom are based overseas.

The Skateboard 2020 Commission will manage funding, provided by the ASC and AOC. Skateboarding will have two disciplines at the Tokyo Olympics, Street and Park.