With less than 300 days remaining until the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, a homologation test for Sport Climbing took place this week (5-7^th November) in Tokyo, Japan.

Honorary Member of the IFSC and Peace & Sport Forum Paola Gigliotti and Nouria Merah-Benida, Peace & Sport Champion for Peace and Olympic gold medallist (Sydney 2000, 1500 metres), travelled to Rome and Perugia, Italy, thanks to the IFSC’s interest in social and educational projects.

IFSC Continental Councils came together last week, on 22^nd and 24^th October, to review their roles, prepare for the 2020 season, and discuss the IFSC Strategic Plan. Led by IFSC Secretary General Debbie Gawrych, Presidents of the Asian, European, Oceanian and Pan-American Continental Councils, as well as representatives from Africa and IFSC Staff members, participated in the meetings.

The first of a three-day meeting between the IFSC and the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (TOCOG) took place today in Tokyo, Japan. In the final countdown to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, IFSC President Marco Maria Scolaris, Vice-President Sport/Events Kobinata Toru and Jérôme Meyer, IFSC Head of Olympic Coordination, are working closely with the Tokyo 2020 team, meeting regularly to prepare for Sport Climbing’s premiere summer Olympic appearance.

The IFSC is pleased to welcome Simona De Mari to the team as Bookkeeper. Reporting to IFSC Administration Director Francesca Jengo, Simona will be responsible for supporting the Administration Department with daily bookkeeping tasks and making travel arrangements for the team.

The fast-paced IFSC Lead World Cup 2019 season completed half of the planned events in under one month before taking a break, leaving fans hanging to see how the season would end and who would find a spot on the final podium. The last three events came at an equally fast pace and culminated with two new climbers claiming season titles.  

The final IFSC World Cup competition of the year named two new gold medalists for the 2019 season, Jain KIM (KOR) and Hiroto SHIMIZU (JPN). Janja GARNBRET (SLO) and Tomoa NARASAKI (JPN) take the Combined Podium.

Competitior information for the upcoming qualification rounds taking place in Inzai on 26 October is now available to all the participating teams. 

The final competition of the IFSC World Cup 2019 series is taking place this weekend in Inzai, Japan from 26 to 27th October. This year’s Lead World Cup champions will be crowned at the conclusion of the event and the momentous occasion is planned to be broadcast both live and delayed-as-live internationally.

On Wednesday 23^rd October, just days before the final IFSC World Cup of the 2019 Sport Climbing season, the IFSC Executive Board came together for their monthly teleconference to discuss the latest developments within the sport.

As of October 21, 2019, the maker of Perfect Descent Auto Belays, C3 Manufacturing has announced a voluntary recall associated with the retraction springs in certain Model 220 Perfect Descent Auto Belays.

For a blisteringly fast sport, the IFSC Speed World Cup 2019 season was drawn out over a span of seven months and across four continents, but the end was worth the wait.