Jul 23 (Kyodo) - The Tokyo 2020 organizing committee and International Surfing Association got a hint of what to expect when surfing makes its Olympic debut next year following a successful test at the competition's venue on Tsurigasaki Beach.
The four-day dress rehearsal featured 40 Japanese surfers competing in a similar format and under similar conditions to what can be expected in a year's time in Ichinomiya, located on the eastern shore of Chiba Prefecture.
Organizers and athletes contended with rain, heavy fog, small waves and a surprise left overnight by a sea turtle as they got valuable insight into how the Olympic tournament might run at this time next year.
The inaugural men's and women's shortboard competitions will occur in a four-day window between July 26 and Aug. 2, 2020, dependent on weather and wave quality.
