The Surf Industry Manufacturers Assocation (SIMA) applauds the International Surfing Association (ISA) for their work getting surfing into the Olympics. This comes on the heels of the news earlier in the week that surfing will be recommended to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to be included in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
“Thanks to the tireless work of the ISA and their President, Fernando Aguerre, surfing is now one very large step closer to being included in the Olympic Games,” notes SIMA President and President and CEO of Rip Curl North America, Kelly Gibson. “We look forward to the day when our surf athletes will be on a global stage with the other world class Olympians!”
After the decision by the Toyko 2020 Olympic Committee to recommend surfing for their Olympic Games, the IOC will now take the final decision on the sports to be added to the 2020 Programme at the 129th IOC Session in Rio in August 2016.
“Tokyo 2020’s announcement this week is an extraordinary moment for our sport and for the global surfing community,” says ISA President, Fernando Aguerre. “The ISA has been riding an amazing wave in this journey for Olympic inclusion and we are thrilled that Tokyo 2020 recognizes the exceptional value and youthful lifestyle that surfing can bring to the 2020 Games. We are deeply grateful to Tokyo 2020 and the IOC for providing us with this wonderful opportunity. We are immensely proud of our sport and what it would bring to the Games and we will continue to work closely with the Olympic Movement to achieve our Olympic dream.”
About SIMA
The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is the official working trade association of more than 300 surf industry suppliers. Founded in 1989, SIMA is a non-profit organization that serves to promote awareness of the surf industry and participation in the sport of surfing through public relations efforts and a variety of services, educational programs and research. In addition, SIMA actively supports oceanic environmental efforts through its 501(c)(3) charitable environmental foundation, the SIMA Environmental Fund. In the past 25 years, SIMA’s Environmental Fund has raised more than $7 million for environmental groups seeking to protect the world’s oceans, beaches and waves. The SIMA Humanitarian Fund, also a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, was established in to award grants to various surf or boardsport related social and humanitarian non-profit organizations whose efforts are focused on improving the quality of life, health and/or welfare of people. Since 2004 the SIMA Humanitarian Fund has raised and donated more than $1.7 million to surf-related non-profit organizations. For more information regarding SIMA, please visit www.sima.com.
About International Surfing Association
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for Surfing, StandUp Paddle (SUP) Surfing and Racing and all other wave riding activities. The ISA has been crowning World Champions in surfing since 1964, with the ultimate mission to develop surfing globally.
