Mixed relays added to Tokyo 2020 programme

Mixed relays in athletics and swimming were added to the programme for the next Olympics yesterday in a radical shake-up of the Games.

A male-and-female 4 x 400 metres will be held on the track at Tokyo 2020, alongside a 4x100m medley in the pool.

A mixed team relay was also added in triathlon, along with mixed team events in judo and archery and a mixed doubles competition in table tennis, doubling the total number of mixed events at the Games to 18. Separate men’s and women’s events also joined the programme in the sports of 3x3 basketball and BMX freestyle park.

In cycling, the madison returns to the Games. Swimming gained men’s 800m and women’s 1500m freestyle races to address a gender imbalance. The changes followed last year’s introduction of skateboarding, surfing, karate, sport climbing and baseball/softball. Yesterday’s addition of 15 events was offset by a reduction of 285 athletes from the 11,237 who took part at Rio last year.

The IOC’S executive board also approved a proposal to jointly award the 2024 and 2028 Olympics this year. Subject to ratification next month, that would mean Paris and Los Angeles each being handed one of the next two Games.

Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Olympic team could be forced to ditch the name ‘Team GB’ in favour of ‘Team UK’ if the Democratic Unionist Party has its way following the general election. The DUP called for the rebrand in its manifesto in “recognition of Northern Ireland”.

The British Olympic Association has no intention of accepting the DUP’S proposal.