Surfing: riding the sunset waves | Photo: Unsplash/Creative Commons

The Chronology of Surfing in the Olympic Games

August 2016
The International Olympic Committee confirms surfing in the Tokyo 2020 sports program.

June 2016
The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee supported the proposal to add surfing – and four new individual and team sports – to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

September 2015
The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee proposed surfing in Olympic Games.

July 2011
Surfing is not included in the 2020 Olympic Games. Only a board sport – wakeboard – is listed.

October 2009
ISA President Fernando Aguerre officially participates in the Olympic Congress.

October 2008
Surfing is included in the first annual, OAC-sanctioned Asian Beach Games, in Bali, Indonesia.

August 2008
ISA President publishes “Surfing in the Olympics,” a key piece in the ISA’s path towards the Olympic Games.

June 2008
ISA President attends SportAccord, where he makes the case for inclusion of Surfing in the Cultural, Education and/or Cultural Programs of the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games, and 2012 London Olympic Games.

December 2003
ISA signs the contract with WADA, conforming to the IOC’s Anti-Doping Charter.

November 2003
ISA submits a re-evaluation document for the IOC records.

December 2002
Surfing was officially put on the South Pacific Games Program.

August 2002
ISA receives a letter saying that surfing will not be considered for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 because it has not yet fulfilled the requirement of having 75 national governing bodies.

November 1997
IOC requests two ISA flags, one for the IOC Headquarters and one for the IOC Museum.

September 1997
IOC grants “outright recognition” to the ISA as a “Recognized Federation.”

January 1997
ISA produces a promotional video about the 1996 World Surfing Games and sends a copy of it to all IOC Members.

October 1996
SA holds its World Surfing Games 1996, in Huntington Beach, California. It was the world’s largest surfing contest, featuring almost 600 competitors from 36 nations.

August 1996
The Olympic “Questionnaire for Admission” is completed and sent back to the IOC.

June 1996
IOC President Samaranch, at the conclusion of his June meeting with ISA Chairman Aguerre, unexpectedly announced the creation of a special “IOC President’s Trophy” to be given to the team winner at the ISA World Surfing Games.

May 1996
Mr. Joao Havelange, President of FIFA (Federation Internationale Football Association), the world’s largest sporting federation, becomes an ambassador for surfing.

September 1995
ISA decides to make a special donation to the IOC museum in honor of becoming a recognized federation.

June 1995
The IOC’s Annual Congress ratifies the Executive Committee’s decision, officially recognizing the ISA as the International Federation for surfing and bodyboarding, thus formally welcoming the sports to the Olympic movement.

April 1995
IOC Executive Committee grants provisional recognition to the International Surfing Association (ISA).

March 1995
Aguerre rallies support of the US surf industry and brings the ISA World Surfing Games to Huntington Beach, USA.

August 1994
ISA files application for recognition by the IOC.

May 1994
Fernando Aguerre is elected Chairman of the ISA, and includes Olympic surfing as part of the ISA’s plan for the inclusion in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

April 1994
Lobbying continues for surfing to become an Olympic sport. Jacques Hele attends several international sports meetings.

November 1992
International Surfing Association (ISA) President Jacques Hele lobbies for surfing in the Olympic movement.

September 1920
Duke Kahanamoku wins the 100 meters Freestyle Olympic gold medal at Antwerp 1920. The “father of surfing” wins another gold medal with the USA 4x200m Men’s Relay team.