One year to go until Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

New South Wales is celebrating one year to go until the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, as its high performance athletes fine tune their quest for qualification.

NSW Minister for Sport John Sidoti will join Australian Olympic Committee officials and legendary sports identities to begin the official countdown to Tokyo 2020.

“Our athletes are getting butterfies in the stomach and the excitement is building for New South Wales sports fans. Every four years, the Olympic Games brings Australians together and inspires the next generation of our State’s young sports stars,” said Mr Sidoti.

“NSW has a proud history of representation and success in Australian Olympic teams and we will see this continue in Tokyo 2020.”

Next year’s Olympic Games will feature a record 33 sports and 339 events across 42 venues.

“I’m really looking forward Surfing’s debut at the Olympics and watching NSW born and bred seven-time World Champion Steph Gilmore go for gold,” Mr Sidoti said.

“One of the best things about the Tokyo Olympics will be the time zone so most of the action will be during our daytime, making Tokyo in some ways a home games.”

NSW Institute of Sport Chief Execuitve Officer, Professor Kevin Thompson said the serious countdown to qualification begins now.

“I wish our athletes, coaches and support staff the best of luck in their quest for Olympic qualification over the coming months.” Mr Thompson said.

“I look forward to seeing many of them donning the green and gold next July.”

NSWIS works to create and deliver high performance support and environments to enable Australian athletes to become world’s best.

Since its establishment in 1996, 113 NSWIS supported athletes have combined to win a total of 86 medals at the Summer Olympics.