Skateboarding was one of five sports proposed by Japanese organisers in September for inclusion at the Olympics, with park and street disciplines put forward.

The sport's proposal was overseen by the International Roller Skating Federation (FIRS), the only IOC-recognised body representing the sport which also unsuccessfully proposed roller speed skating. 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has since opened negotiations, however, with the International Skateboarding Federation (ISF) about running the event at Tokyo 2020 but McFerran has warned the WSF should not be overlooked.

"The IOC has credited WSF’s efforts as being a reason skateboarding is being considered for inclusion in 2020 Olympic Games," he told insidethegames.

"Additionally, I have also been told that the sustainability and legacy components that I personally have added into WSF’s skateboarding events are a reason that skateboarding is now more attractive than it previously was.

"Many countries have been questioning the value of major sports events and our sustainability programmes are a huge part of the attractiveness of skateboarding.

"In fact, there is already talks of a permanent skate park with social programmes for Tokyo."

McFerran claimed the IOC are talking to the WSF about them being involved in the organisation of the sport at Tokyo 2020, although the the ISF have the advantage of having been selected by the IOC to oversee the skateboarding exhibition event at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing last year. 

The matter may be discussed here tomorrow during the second day of the IOC Executive Board meeting when Christophe Dubi, the IOC's Executive Director for the Olympic Games, is due to present a report. 

"I can verify that in the recent weeks all parties have been speaking to the IOC," McFerran told insidethegames.

"Obviously, IOC recognition of one organisation or efforts to create a unified body from different organisations is a very arduous task and a difficult decision that requires careful and thoughtful deliberation."

A final decision on how many sports, which also include baseball and softball, karate, sport climbing and surfing, will be included in Tokyo is due to be made by the IOC at its Session in Rio de Janeiro next summer.

Unlike FIRS, neither the WSF or ISF is not an IOC-recognised body or a member of SportAccord, the umbrella group for Olympic and non-Olympic sports.

Many within skateboarding are keen to avoid a repeat of snowboarding's amalgamation into the International Ski Federation ahead of its Olympic debut at Nagano in 1998, claiming this took away much of the sport's unique identity.

Skateboarding would present an even greater challenge to the IOC, McFerran predicted.

"When snowboarding was approved for the Olympics, it was more organized and further along than skateboarding is today," he said. 

"Yet, snowboarding was still not organised enough for the IOC to be comfortable with its self-governance.

"With that in mind, you can imagine the uphill battle the IOC is facing as it approaches skateboarding."

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