Five additional sports, including skateboarding and surfing, have been recommended by the organisers of the Tokyo Olympics for inclusion at the 2020 Summer Games, it was announced yesterday.

Baseball/softball, karate and climbing were also given the thumbs up under a proposal that will see a total of 18 new medal events, nine each for men and women, contested by an extra 474 athletes at the Games.

Under new rules, Olympic host cities can hand-pick sports they want included at the Games, joining the existing 28 core sports.

The final decision rests with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which will vote on the 2020 recommendations next August.

Bowling, squash and wushu had also been short-listed for inclusion in Tokyo but were left off the final recommended list, leaving their supporters devastated.

"I know I speak on behalf of the millions of squash players around the world for whom the opportunity of seeing their sport participate in the Olympics has been an absolute priority -- and, like me, they will be heartbroken," World Squash Federation President Narayana Ramachandran said.