(ATR)The International Sport Fishing Confederation (CIPS) is seeking to include angling into the Olympic program.
In a statement released by the confederation, it claims steps have already been made to complete the application process.
"I would like to confirm we are convinced that obtaining this recognition, and becoming member of the Olympic family, it would be very important for CIPS; because besides giving a great additional contribution for promoting not only the fishing sport but the universal sport, it would enlarge the development and the universality of the Olympic idea all over the world," CIPS president Ferenc Szalay said in a statement.
The only time the event has been featured in the Olympic Games was Paris 1900 as an unofficial sport.
The IOC has recently expressed the need to include more sports that have universal appeal. Fishing sport may fit the bill as it represents 135 different national angling federations in over 70 countries but is not recognized by the their own National Olympic Committees.
Five new sport events including baseball and softball, karate, sport climbing, surfing and skateboarding have recently been accepted into the Tokyo 2020 Olympic program by the IOC executive board.
The final program for the Tokyo Games is expected to be finalized in June 2017.
Written by Courtney Colquitt
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