RIO DE JANEIRO -- Baseball and softball are returning to the Olympics in 2020, while skateboarding, surfing, karate and sport climbing are joining the games for the first time.The IOC approved the addition of the sports Wednesday for the Tokyo Games, calling it an innovative mix of traditional and youth-oriented events that will attract Japanese and global fans.The five, including a combined baseball-softball bid, were put forward for inclusion last year by Tokyo organizers. Under new IOC rules, host cities can propose additional sports for their own games.IOC members voted unanimously to accept the five sports as a package. The approval was for the Tokyo Games only.The new sports will add 18 events and 474 athletes to the program. The Tokyo Games will now feature 33 sports and about 11,000 athletes, compared to the usual number of 28 sports and 10,500 athletes.While mens baseball and womens softball -- both highly popular in Japan -- will be returning after a 12-year absence, the other sports will be making their Olympic debuts.The IOC called it the most comprehensive evolution of the Olympic program in modern history.Taken together, the five sports are an innovative combination of established and emerging, youth-focused events that are popular in Japan and will add to the legacy of the Tokyo Games, IOC President Thomas Bach said.Baseball and softball have been off the Olympic program since the 2008 Beijing Games. The two were rejected in separate bids to return for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, so they combined forces to put forward a single bid for inclusion in Tokyo.Mens baseball was a full part of the Olympic program from 1992 to 2008, with womens softball joining in 1996. The IOC voted them both out in 2005.Baseball will have a six-team tournament, short of the eight-team format sought by officials from the sports international federation. Womens softball will also have six teams. The games will be played at a shared venue In Yokohama.Todays historic decision by the IOC is a `home run for the Olympics, our sport and the Tokyo 2020 Games, said Riccardo Fraccari, president of the World Baseball Softball Confederation.Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred also welcomed the IOC vote.Baseball and softball are global sports that belong in the Olympics, he said, adding that their approval will allow fans throughout the world to again enjoy baseball and softball on the Olympic stage.Craig Cress, executive director of USA Softball, said many young players had suffered after the sport was removed from the games.Their hearts were broken that they werent allowed to participate for their country at the Olympics in the sport that they had a passion for, he said. Now, thats back. In 2020, its our job as ambassadors of the sport to put on a great show in Tokyo.Before the vote, several IOC members questioned whether baseball would have the worlds top players at the games. While pro leagues in Japan and some other countries have agreed to shut down their seasons to send their players to the Olympics, MLB has declined to do so.Franco Carraro, who chairs the IOCs program commission, said he hopes the international federation can still reach an agreement with MLB, in line with the deals with the NBA and NHL that brought pro basketball and ice hockey players into the Olympics.If not, Carraro said, said it will be difficult for baseball to be included in the future beyond the Tokyo Games.Fraccari said talks with MLB are very open and going in a very good way.Our goal is not to appear one time but to be permanently in the program, he said. The goal is to have the best players possible.Skateboarding will have street and park events, and feature 80 athletes -- 40 men and 40 women. In climbing, 40 competitors will take part in the disciplines of speed, bouldering and lead (also known as sport). Karate will have 80 athletes competing in mens and womens Kumite and Kata events, while surfing will have two shortboard events for 40 competitors.The surfing competition will be held on natural waves at a beach location in Chiba prefecture.Our Olympic dream has now become a reality, International Surfing Association president Fernando Aguerre said. This is a game-changing moment for surfing.Skateboarding and sports climbing events will be held in temporary venues in urban settings in Tokyo, while karate will be contested at the Nippon Budokan in the capital.Ive always believed that if skateboarding was properly protected and supported, its appearance on the Olympic stage could change the world, International Skateboarding Federation president Gary Ream said.Skateboardings approval came despite tensions between rival federations.For the Olympics, a special Tokyo 2020 skateboarding commission was formed to run the sport. It is a collaboration between the International Roller Sports Federation (FIRS) and the ISF.A lawsuit was filed last week in California by the World Skateboarding Federation (WSF). It alleged the ISF abruptly canceled scheduled drug testing at an event last year because of fears that several riders would test positive.The lawsuit also alleged that Ream struck up a friendly relationship with Christophe Dubi, the IOC Olympic Games executive director, and provided Dubis son with free training at a skateboarding camp he owned.Fake China Jerseys .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. China Jerseys Cheap . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. https://www.chinajerseyscheap.us/ . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). 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"Were starting to play up to our capabilities," said Maddon, who shrugged off questions about Tampa Bays surge coming against teams with losing records. "We dont assume anything," the Rays manager said. "We arent looking at records. Were just playing." Archer (3-3) limited the Twins to an unearned run and three hits to outpitch fellow rookie Kyle Gibson (1-2), who was done in by one bad inning in his third career start for Minnesota. Joyce drove in two runs with a two-out, bases-loaded single that snapped a scoreless tie in the fourth, the outfielders first RBIs since June 15. Johnson followed with a two-run double for his first multi-RBI game since May 27 to give Archer all the support he would need. "The teams been playing really well the last couple of weeks and were starting to build a little confidence in each other," Joyce said. "Any big moment that comes up now, we have confidence in any guy in that position. ... I think thats how good teams win, and thats how they get on rolls like were on right now." The Rays starter yielded Joe Mauers first-inning double and singles by Trevor Plouffe and Chris Parmelee in the second. He retired 10 in a row before the Twins scored their only run without getting a hit, thanks to Brian Dozier being hit by a pitch, Archers two-base throwing error and Ryan Doumits sacrifice fly. Alex Torres, Jake McGee and Fernando Rodney each pitched a scoreless inning for the Rays, with Rodney getting the final three outs to finish a combined five-hitter and earn his 21st save. The Twins had two hits after the second inning -- singles by Mauer and Doumit leading off the ninth. Rodney struck out Justin Morneau, Plouffe and Oswaldo Arcia to end the game. "A tough night offensively for us," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. Gibson, meanwhile, allowed four runs and four hits over six innings. He walked four and struck out three. It was the second straight loss for the 25-year-old right-hander, who beat Kansas City in his big league debut on June 29 before being roughed up five days later by the New York Yankees.dddddddddddd Gibson limited the Rays to one baserunner through three innings, but ran into trouble after walking two batters to begin the fourth. James Loney drew a two-out walk to load the bases, and Joyce and Johnson followed with their big hits to dump the Twins into a 4-0 hole they couldnt escape with a sputtering offence. After going 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position while losing Mondays series opener 7-4, the Twins failed to take advantage a couple of early opportunities against Archer. They were 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position in the first two innings, then didnt have another batter reached base until Dozier was hit by a pitch leading off the sixth. Archers errant pickoff throw -- Tampa Bays first error in 10 games -- allowed Dozier to advance to third before Doumit delivered his sacrifice fly. "I thought Gibby threw the ball well all except one inning where he just lost the strike zone. I thought he settled in after that and went back out there for a couple more good innings. One bad inning un-done us," Gardenhire said. "Offensively early, we were banging some balls pretty hard. I thought we were hitting them on the screws at people, and their kid settled in there pretty decent. Did what he had to do, and got to the bullpen and they threw some really good arms at us there," Gardenhire added. "We all know Rodney, I think, is going to misfire a little bit, but hes got filthy stuff. We got him in a situation, but he made pitches when he had to." NOTES: Tampa Bay rookie OF Wil Myers, in a 5-for-31 slump, was out of the lineup for the first time since making his big league debut on June 18. With the Rays and Twins finishing up this series night game Wednesday followed by a Thursday matinee, Maddon said it was a logical day to give the young slugger a day off. ... Twins LHP Caleb Thielbar, whose grandmother died, will go on the bereavement list Thursday. He will rejoin the team this weekend and be eligible to pitch on Sunday against the New York Yankees. RHP Michael Tonkin will be recalled from Triple-A Rochester to fill Thielbars spot on the roster. ... Minnesota OF Josh Willingham (left knee) has started doing light exercises. ... Twins OF Wilkin Ramirez (concussion-like symptoms) is still having headaches. He has missed the past 40 games. ... Despite losing its top two home runs hitters (B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena) from last season to free agency, the Rays are on a pace to hit 182 homers -- seven more than in 2012. ' ' '
