ISA: Surfing in the Olympics By: Fernando Aguerre August 20, 2008 PRESS RELEASE
The IOC and contemporary sports: In the past few years the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has dramatically evolved in its view of the so-called extreme or contemporary sports and their place in the Olympic Movement.
The very positive effect of the inclusion of snowboarding in the Winter Games has also been a great wake up call for many. Another example of this positive evolution is the inclusion of BMX in the Beijing Games.
Presently diverse stakeholders around the world are friendly to the possibility of surfing's inclusion in the Summer Games. This is in part because surfing has a well functioning and structured IOC-Recognized International Federation (the ISA) and National Federations, but most importantly it has to do with the realization that without "pruning the Olympic Games tree" by adding relevant new sports, and excluding no longer relevant sports, the tree itself will become less relevant and vital.
The 2009 Olympic Congress: An opportunity for positive changes: For the first time in history, the IOC has created a Virtual Olympic Congress. In preparation for the 2009 Olympic Congress (a kind of constitutional assembly that is held from time to time), the IOC has invited all sports leaders, and even members of the public, to submit proposals for improving the Games and the IOC. This welcome move is fresh air for the whole Olympic Movement.
http://www.isasurf.org/OlympicSurfing.php 