The Philippines is bracing for the inclusion of skateboarding in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by certifying new judges and referees who can officiate in events here and abroad.
Twelve new judges and referees were given certifications during a seminar held by Asian Extreme Sports Association Warren Stuart of Hong Kong.
“We are now certifying judges now that we are looking forward to having skateboarding in the Southeast Asian Games and Olympics,” said Skateboarding and Roller Sports Association of the Philippines President Monty Mendigoria.
On Friday, the International Olympic Committee announced that skateboarding, along with surfing and sport climbing, will make their Olympic debuts at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
“Everything followed following this announcement, we need to have credible judges who have been chosen because of their experience,” added Mendegoria.
The inclusion of the four disciplines is aimed at rejuvenating the Olympics, through its Olympic Agenda 2020, which is all about striving to make the Olympic program more gender-balanced, more youth-focused and more urban.
SEA Games gold medallist Margielyn Didal, who will be paired with Christiana Means, an outstanding Fil-American skateboarder from Charlotte, South Carolina, is still the country’s top bet in the coming biennial meet.
The judges are expected to officiate in different meets around the country, including the national SEA Games qualifier scheduled from Aug. 24 to 25 in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
And there will also be a search for most promising skaters in the south through the Mindanao leg, on May 25 and 26 in General Santos City. In the SEA Games, there will be 16 gold medals at stake in skateboarding.
