The IOC has invited the Int’l Skateboarding Federation to host a series of skateboarding exhibitions throughout next month’s Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China. The federation, which announced the news today, plans to showcase a dozen athletes from around the world, including Renton Millar (Australia), Kelvin Hoefler (Brazil), Tomas Vintr (Czech Republic), Lizzie Armanto (U.S.) and two skaters currently competing in Nike SB’s Street League Skateboarding series.
Skateboarding is the only sport not currently in the Olympics to be invited to host an exhibition, said ISF President Gary Ream. He has been talking to the IOC about skateboarding joining the Olympics since '06. He helped form the ISF a few years later to help get the sport into the Olympics, but inclusion in the YOG (Aug. 17-27) marks the first formal invitation the IOC has extended to the ISF.
Ream said, “I believe (the IOC) are starting to believe this isn’t a fad but is real. We’re dating and they’re going to be introduced to a group of us – to how we’re organizing and embracing all avenues of skateboarding so that if it’s done (in the Olympics), it’s done right. I truly believe the IOC gets that. This is a fun opportunity for us (the IOC and ISF) to get to know each other.”
