Sport climbing has failed to reach the final shortlist of sports being considered for the 2020 Olympics. The International Olympics Committee (IOC) has just announced that wrestling, baseball and squash have made it through to the final vote in September.

Rob Adie, BMC competitions officer said: "The BMC is incredibly disappointed to hear that Sport Climbing has not made the final 3 shortlist for the 2020 Olympic Games. This would have been a great opportunity for the sport worldwide but we'll have to wait another four years before we can put our case forward again. The BMC would like to thank the IFSC for all the hard work they put into the bid and we feel that, despite the outcome, the sport as a whole has benefited from the widened media exposure especially for those on Team GB and the future is definitely bright for British and International competition climbing."

Junior GB Climbing Team captain Molly Thompson-Smith said: "Even though we did not make it on this occasion it's still a big step forward for climbing as the public are now aware of what a great sport it is. I know that we will all continue to work hard and become better climbers but for now, onwards and upwards."

Earlier today, the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) presented the bid for sport climbing, along with the seven other shortlisted sports, at an IOC meeting in St Petersburg, Russia.

IOC President Jacques Rogge said: "The Executive Board received excellent presentations today from eight International Federations." 

Official statement on the IOC website.

Read more about the voting at Inside the Games.

The news was announced as members of the GB bouldering team headed out to Toronto for the fifth Boulder World Cup of the season. 

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