2020 Tokyo Olympic Games
Karate is another sport added to the programme today ©Getty Images

Baseball and softball, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing have all been added to the Tokyo 2020 programme, it was confirmed here today.

Tokyo 2020 has celebrated four years to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Games of the 32nd Olympiad by holding an event at the Japanese capital’s Haneda Airport ©Tokyo 2020/Shugo Takemi

Tokyo 2020 has celebrated four years to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Games of the 32nd Olympiad by holding an event at the Japanese capital’s Haneda Airport.

Mixed triathlon relay is an event that could be added to the Olympic programme at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images

A final decision on new events being added to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic programme from within existing sports is set to be taken in June 2017.

Five new sports have been proposed for the Olympic programme at Tokyo 2020 by the IOC Executive Board, including baseball, dropped following Beijing 2008, where South Kora won the gold medal ©Getty Images

Baseball and softball, karate, sport climbing, skateboarding and surfing have all been recommended for inclusion at Tokyo 2020 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board here today.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe has vowed to cooperate with the ongoing French investigation into an alleged bribe paid by Tokyo 2020 during their successful bid to land the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Transfers totalling $2 million (£1.3 million/€1.7 million) were made in 2013 to a Singapore-based account owned by company Black Tidings, allegedly used by the disgraced Diack family. Lamine Diack, the former President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and who was later embroiled in corruption allegations, was still a voting International Olympic Committee (IOC) member until 2013 and was also thought to have influence over the decisions of others. It has been alleged that the money, therefore, could have been used to sway Diack and other voting IOC members at the 2013 Session when Tokyo was elected as Olympic host in Buenos Aires. Tokyo 2020 and Japanese officials have denied all the allegations and claim the money was a legitimate consulting fee. Abe, who played a key late role in Buenos Aires by meeting with influential members including Diack, has called for full Government cooperation with the French probe. "I have instructed the Education and Sports Minister to fully cooperate in the investigation," he told Parliament today. "Education and Sports Minister Hiroshi Hase told the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) and the former Bid Committee to cooperate in the investigation." Lamine Diack's son Papa Moussata, has criticised the allegations ©Getty Images Lamine Diack's son Papa Diack has criticised the allegations ©Getty Images Other bodies including Singapore's Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) are also assisting the French investigation. Tsunekazu Takeda, the President of the JOC and the leader of the Tokyo 2020 bid, claims the fee was for international consultancy and was paid to Black Tidings’ official owner Ian Tan Tong Han. It is not yet clear what precise consultancy work Tan - who is thought to be in his 20s - provided. Lamine Diack was arrested in France in November amid allegations bribes had been taken to cover up failed drugs tests in athletics. The Senegalese stepped down as an honorary IOC member last year after the allegations surfaced. His son Papa was one of three people banned for life by the IAAF for helping Russian marathon runner Liliya Shobukhova avoid punishment for doping - with it alleged that money was channeled through the same Black Tidings account. Papa Diack has claimed he had not received any money from the Tokyo bid team. "I haven't got any money," he told Kyodo News from Senegal's capital Dakar, where he remains in hiding due to an Interpol warrant for his arrest. "Let them investigate...I have nothing to hide. "I've been in this sports business for 25 years - I know the rules." He admitted to having been friends with Tan, who was thought to have a key role in international athletics, since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but claims he had no awareness of his involvement in Tokyo 2020. Shinzō Abe (right) pictured with Lamine Diack at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires at which Tokyo was awarded the Games ©Getty Images Lamine Diack's son Papa Moussata, has criticised the allegations ©Getty ImagesShinzō Abe (right) pictured with Lamine Diack at the IOC Session in Buenos Aires at which Tokyo was awarded the Games ©Getty Images

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe has vowed to cooperate with the ongoing French investigation into an alleged bribe paid by Tokyo 2020 during their successful bid to land the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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