The International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved surfing's qualification system for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The sport's Olympic debut will feature 20 male and 20 female surfers competing in a shortboard event.
The qualification process is the result of a previous agreement between the International Surfing Association (ISA) and the World Surf League (WSL).
As a host country, Japan automatically earns two spots - one for the men's competition, and one for the women's division - of the 40 made available.
The remaining 19+19 Olympic surfers will be decided via four major events:
2019 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (March - December)
The ten highest ranked eligible surfers in the men's 2019 WSL CT ranking will obtain a quota place;
The eight highest ranked eligible surfers in the women’s 2019 WSL CT ranking will obtain a quota place;
2019 ISA World Surfing Games (September)
The four top finishing male surfers from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania will obtain one quota place;
The four top finishing female surfers from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania will obtain one quota place;
2019 Pan American Games (July 26 - August 11)
The highest placed, and not yet qualified male surfers at the Pan American Games 2019 will obtain one quota place;
The highest placed, and not yet qualified female surfers at the Pan American Games 2019 will obtain one quota place;
2020 ISA World Surfing Games (April - May)
The four highest placed eligible male athletes, at the 2020 ISA World Surfing Games will obtain a quota place;
The six highest placed eligible female athletes, at the 2020 ISA World Surfing Games will obtain a quota place;
The maximum of surfers per gender, and per National Olympic Committee (NOC) is two. For example, the United States may only get four athletes in the competition set for Tsurigasaki Beach.
This number could increase to three per NOC in case not all quota places of the World Surf League can be attributed.
The IOC has also considered a series of rules for the reallocation of unused qualification places, unused quote places, and unused host country places.
The deadline for all the Tokyo 2020 sports entries is July 6, 2020.