Of the thousands of sports that individuals can practice, only a select few attain the status of Olympic sports. These Olympic sports, featured in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, must be represented in the International Olympic Committee — IOC, by an international regulatory body, called the International Sports Federation (IF) or a similar organization. However, achieving this level of recognition requires navigating a long and often challenging path. Nevertheless, reaching the pinnacle of Olympic status offers significant benefits. The Olympic Games possess the unique ability to elevate a sport's profile, transcending cultural, continental, and age barriers, and attracting record global television audiences. A prime example of the Games' increasing global appeal is the Beijing 2008 Opening Ceremony, which drew over 1.5 billion viewers, making it the most-watched live event in human history at that time, even surpassing the audience for the Moon landing.

But the most significant attractions of the Games are the athletes and, consequently, the sports they represent.

"Since Tokyo 2020, and following the recommendations of the Olympic Agenda 2020,[2] the relevant organizing committee of each edition of the Olympic Games (“OCOG“) may also propose one or more additional events for inclusion in that specific edition of the Olympic Games.[3] Following an agreement between the OCOG, the relevant IF and the IOC, the sports programme may be subsequently amended by the Session to include the additional sports for such edition of the Games, which will occur no later than three years before the opening of the relevant Olympic Games. (1)"

However, which types of sports will be accepted? According to the IOC, "Only sports that comply with the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code, and the Code of the Olympic Movement on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competition are eligible to participate in the program. (2)" IOC has established mechanisms to measure compliance with these criteria.

The positive development regarding new modalities is that the Games are no longer solely defined by traditional disciplines such as running, swimming, and gymnastics. This shift is particularly significant as "the traditional modalities no longer seem to occupy the same space in the media, nor do they attract the same level of attention that they did for young audiences." (3) But this is nothing new. Looking back to the origins of the modern Olympics in 1894, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the Games, sought to introduce relatively unconventional events, depending on the perspective, such as “hunting”, “climbing” (returning in 2020) and “aviation”. At this juncture, another question arises regarding the unique characteristics of certain modalities: Will they be willing to comply with the IOC regulations?

"During the IX Brazilian Congress of Adventure Activities in 2016, it was widely debated by the speakers to what extent it would be worth the 'sportivization' of these practices, which would make them lose their essence to the detriment of the traditional manifestation of sport." (3)

Amid this controversy, the leaders of the Olympic movement are transitioning into a new era. The IOC has traditionally been responsible for determining which sports remain in, leave, or are added to the Games each year. However, since 2020, not all power resides solely with the IOC; the host country of the Olympic Games now also plays a significant role in deciding which sports can be included in their home country (4). The 2020 and 2020+5 Agendas (discussed in the following section) are shaping a new vision of Olympism, which aims to understand the sociocultural context that underpins and legitimizes the redefinition of the Olympic program (3).

To understand the negotiations surrounding the introduction of new modalities to the Olympic Games and the current state of this evolving Olympism, we present an integrative narrative review that encompasses informative publications, official communications, and speeches, as well as original studies sourced from academic databases. Our analysis is guided by the documents published by the IOC: Agenda 2020 (5) and Agenda 2020+5 (6). We will describe the state of the impact of the Agendas on sports, whether new, renewed, or reinstated—and provide comprehensive information about the influences of these new directives on Olympic sports.

Understanding what was exposed in our introduction when we consider that innovation has been a constant in the Olympic movement, we will deal with the most recent Olympic turnaround that reiterates a series of values ​​present in modern-era Olympism and directs its actors towards the execution of an agenda committed to safeguarding these values ​​and reinforcing the role of sport in society. It can be said that this new Olympism began at the Tokyo Games with the Covid-19 pandemic, but its official gestation dates back to 2014, when the "Olympic Agenda" was unanimously agreed at the 127th IOC Session in Monaco on the 8th and 9th of December 2014. The Olympic Agenda (5) was initially formed by a set of 40 detailed recommendations whose global objective would be to preserve the so-called Olympic values ​​and strengthen the role of sport around the world. At the Agenda's launch, IOC President Thomas Bach reminded Nelson Mandela: "Sport has the power to change the world." These 40 interrelated recommendations were identified and compiled through a collaborative and consultative process involving Olympic Movement stakeholders and external participants (since February 2014, the IOC has received 1,200 ideas generated by 270 contributions and 43,500 emails from various Olympic Movement stakeholders, as well as various civil society organizations and individuals; academics, NGOs, companies, etc.).

Naturally, a document of this magnitude (the "OLYMPIC AGENDA 2020") (7) has the potential to influence the world of sports as a whole. However, to what extent has each modality present in the list of Olympic activities revitalized the global sporting landscape?

In recent editions of the Olympics, even during the pandemic, news about the inclusion of new sports in the Games has dominated headlines. Never in the history of the modern Olympics has the appeal of these sports been so significant. Karate, sport climbing, and skateboarding have crowned their first Olympic champions, while softball and baseball were reinstated in the Games since Beijing'2008 (8). Skateboarding, climbing, surfing, and the newcomer breaking were four non-traditional sports that captivated the public at the Paris Games (9). Five new sports will debut at the Los Angeles' 2028, including baseball/softball, lacrosse, and cricket returning to the Olympic program, and flag football and squash making their Olympic debut (10).

The public's curiosity has increased regarding the number of different modalities, their characteristics, and the reasons why some are selected while others are not. However, all of this was anticipated in the IOC document mentioned earlier and in its update, Agenda 2020+5 (6). If, on the one hand, the Olympic Agenda is creating new opportunities; on the other hand, Olympism has been "backed against the wall" for some time. Governments involved in the Olympic movement face considerable risks and declining enthusiasm for investing in Olympic agendas, which traditionally require billions of dollars and impose multiple demands on host countries (11). Regardless of this set of broader issues, we will continue to focus on the critical point that encompasses athletes and events—specifically, the modalities.

To comprehend the significance of the modalities in the Olympics, we must first understand what constitutes an Olympic sport.

The International Olympic Committee categorizes Olympic sports as disciplines affiliated with federations, confederations, or other governing bodies with official representation and recognition in their respective countries. These disciplines participate in events (the competitions) that award medals to the participants, the athletes. Popularly, we will refer to disciplines as sports modalities and events as sports competitions. Only events governed by recognized international governing bodies are eligible for inclusion in the Olympic program, as outlined in Statutes 1.3.2 and 1.4.2 of Rule 45 of the Olympic Charter (12). The opportunity to propose additional sports for the program lies at the discretion of the respective Olympic Games Organizing Committee and is subject to the final decision of the IOC Session. Despite the launch of new Agendas that influence the choice of modalities for each edition of the Games, the number of them continues to be limited by rules that stipulate other limitations, namely athletes and sporting events. According to Statute 3.2 of Rule 45 of the Olympic Charter (12), the Summer Olympic Games must be limited to approximately 10,500 athletes, 5,000 coaches and support staff and 310 events relevant to all participating sports, while the Winter Olympic Games must be limited to approximately 2,900 athletes, 2,000 coaches and support staff and 100 events, relevant to all participating modalities; this is if there is no agreement to the contrary by OCOG. The number of sports has varied from one Olympics to the next; for example, eight of the 32 sports at the Paris '2024 games consist of multiple disciplines, resulting in more than 70 sports at that Olympics. If we consider all the modalities that have already been present at the Games, the list exceeds 80 (Table).

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Table. Olympic sports frequency (2024) (13,14).

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Since the elevation of the sport to Olympic status enhances its recognition, and given that the Olympic Agenda significantly influences this transition, it may be shaping the evolution of certain sports both within and outside the historical context of the Olympic movement.

"They are responsible for deciding what sports remain, leave or get added to the Olympic Games every year. It's up to the IOC's Executive Board to propose new sports, to which the rest of the IOC vote for or against. The IOC is also responsible for deciding what criteria must be met for a sport to take its place at the prestigious event." (4)

Taking Los Angeles'2028 as an example, the premises for the inclusion of 5 sports in the program were to expand the international reach of the sports, that is, the dissemination of these sports in new countries and regions; the involvement of broad social layers associated with the modalities; the increased interest in the history of these sports; and, finally, the increased popularity of the Olympic movement in the world (15). The legal way in which these sports got there, and others can also get there, is as follows: 1st) The IOC advisory council proposes the new modality in an IOC Session (they take place every 7 years); 2nd) The Olympic Agenda grants the host city influence to propose new sports for inclusion in the Olympic Program; 3rd) By agreement between the relevant Organizing Committee, the relevant IF and the IOC, the program may be changed by decision of the Session, no later than three years before the opening of the relevant Olympic Games.

Thus, the new modalities are among the topics of great relevance in the Olympic Agenda, this body of recommendations designed to keep the Olympic Movement up to date with current world trends. The document discusses several key issues, including the financial viability of the Olympic Games and the interest of young people in the event. This is where the new modalities play a crucial role: one point emphasizes the promotion of electronic sports (eSports), while another highlights the inclusion of youth sports such as surfing, skateboarding, climbing, and others in the Olympic program (16).

We will focus exclusively on the recommendations from the Agendas that directly impact the modalities. The 40 + 15 separate yet interrelated recommendations from the 2020 and 2020+5 Agendas (see Appendix) were identified and compiled through a collaborative and consultative process. This process was driven by the recognition that the world is evolving rapidly and that the Olympic Movement must seize the opportunity to act as an agent of change (5). Next, we will separate the items on the Agenda that specifically address the modalities.

Let's begin with recommendation number 6, which states: "Cooperate closely with other organizers of sporting events." The cooperation with the World Games stands out here, events that often showcase sports and disciplines that are not included in the Olympic program. The IOC's recommendation emphasizes that new disciplines and events can be evaluated by Olympic sports directors in detail during these events.

Recommendation 8 is also relevant to the new modalities, as it dictates the following: "Strengthen relationships with professional leagues". Following recommendation 9 could pose risks to the growth of new sports, as it is restrictive: "Define a structure for the Olympic program." The structure must accommodate approximately 10,500 athletes; 5,000 accredited coaches and athlete support staff, and 310 events.

Recommendation 10 collaborates with the advent of new modalities, but in a controlled way: "Change from a sports-based program to an event-based program". The characteristics and cost of events can restrict the entry of new modalities. The events proposed by the host city would have to meet the criteria for events included in the Olympic program, such as international representation, anti-doping regulations, participation of the best athletes, etc. In addition to the traditional review process for sports selected for possible inclusion, the IOC Sports Department will have to conduct a separate review process for events proposed by the host city.

Recommendation 19 does not directly impact the introduction of new sports; however, it does have an indirect effect on their maintenance: "Launch an Olympic channel". The promotion of sports enhances the modalities themselves within the Olympic movement, creating a positive feedback loop.

Another indirect recommendation suggests: "Strengthen the IOC's ability to advocate for sport" (recommendation 21). Considering the worrying indicators regarding sedentary lifestyle in the world and the reduction of physical education in school curricula, it is very opportune for the IOC to defend greater investment in sport and physical activity, and any modality is valid here, as we are dealing with the foundations of sports practice and high-performance competition, which ultimately support the advancement of the Olympic Movement.

From this point, we jump to the 2020+5 Agenda, with the assessment of the relevance of our object of study to these other 15 IOC recommendations.

Let's begin with recommendation number 4 of the 2020+5 Agenda: "to attract the best athletes". The suggestion advocates for the International Olympic Committee to persist in its efforts to promote top athletes, while also engaging with local governing bodies, including federations, confederations, professional leagues, and other organizers of sporting events. This approach aims to enhance collaboration with the modalities.

Recommendation 9 states: "Encourage the development of virtual sports and further interact with video game communities", The IOC explicitly calls for the exploration of new modalities: "Consider adding physical virtual sports to the Olympic Program in cooperation with the respective IFs". And more, he warns that it is important to "note the difference between the two forms of virtual sport and, on the other hand, video games." Virtual sports can be categorized into physical forms (such as cycling) and non-physical forms (such as football), while video games encompass competitive games (such as League of Legends) and casual games (such as Super Mario). This marks the final highlight of our discussion, addressing a highly controversial topic: the potential inclusion of various new modalities with distinct characteristics. This includes, for instance, the role of eSports spectators, the possibility of eSports becoming an Olympic sports discipline (i.e., a category of modalities), the relationship between League of Legends teams and their corporate owners, ergonomics in eSports, player health concerns, and other contentious issues (17).

From this review, we can observe the pathway a sport must take to achieve Olympic status. To access Olympism as a modality, the sport must be selected at the IOC Session from among the sports governed by the international federations recognized by the body, which will verify compliance with the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code, and the Code of the Olympic Movement on the Prevention of Competition Manipulation. However, since 2020, sports have relied on the support of Olympic agendas to secure a vote at the IOC session.

According to Agendas 2020 and 2020+5, new sports that wish to achieve Olympic status must increase their participation in world championships and become visible to the leaders of the Olympic committees. At the same time, they must understand that they will compete with other sports interested in a limited number of places, that is, events (around 300) and athletes (around ten thousand), with great attention paid to the number of events, which will be the IOC's primary focus. However, in addition to being visible to the leaders, new sports must also seek popularity, whether in the mainstream media or on the relevant Olympic channels. Also based on the recommendations of the Agendas, it will be important to seek participation in social and educational movements, highlighting their value within sport as a whole; including by promoting symbols, "heroes", "super athletes" who represent the sport in local groups.

In summary, not every sport can reach the pinnacle of success. To achieve this, a sport must possess a rich history, strong traditions, a degree of universality, widespread popularity, a favorable image in society, exceptional athletes, and a well-regulated international federation that oversees the sport and its operational costs (18).