IOC to turn higher, faster, stronger, together, into sport, music, art, and culture during newly revealed multi-sport qualification series

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Skateboarding - Men's Park - Preliminary Round - Ariake Urban Sports Park - Tokyo, Japan - August 5, 2021. Jaime Mateu of Spain in action REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) revealed plans for a new multi-sport qualification series to be conducted in the run up to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

Four “urban” sports will feature alongside musical, artistic, and cultural exhibitions. The series consists of three events, with each event taking place in one compact, city center venue over a period of the four days. Events within the series will be held sometime between March and June 2024.

The IOC will partner with the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), and World Skate to carry out the new qualification series. Each federation will be responsible for running the respective competitions in their sport.

The organization and staging of the new qualification series is also one of the first major projects undertaken with Agenda 2020+5 in mind. In line with recommendation six of Agenda 2020+5, the IOC will look to use the series to “enhance and promote the road to the Olympic Games.”

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Sport Climbing - Women's Speed - Final - Aomi Urban Sports Park - Tokyo, Japan - August 6, 2021. Miho Nonaka of Japan in action during competing Pool via REUTERS/Tsuyoshi Ueda

IOC President Thomas Bach commented on the announcement, stating, “a key recommendation of Olympic Agenda 2020+5 was to enhance and promote the road to the Olympic Games for the athletes. This series of qualification events is a key milestone in the delivery of that recommendation.”

“By having the best athletes from these four sports in a series of qualification events in major city locations, which will combine sport and culture in a festival atmosphere, we expect to boost their visibility and highlight the great achievements of the competing athletes on the road to Paris 2024.”

Bach added, “I would like to congratulate the four participating International Federations for their vision in working with us to create a new exciting pathway to the Olympic Games for athletes and fans around the world.”

The IOC has yet to delve into more specific details about the series of events, however, it was confirmed the series will be a part of the qualification pathway to the Olympic Games for the sports involved.