What is sport climbing?

Sport climbing was officially introduced as an additional event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and its popularity has been growing rapidly. In this article, I would like to answer the questions of those who are wondering what sport climbing actually is.

First of all, sport climbing is a sport where you climb artificial walls using colorful holds (grips) with minimal equipment, such as climbing shoes and anti-slip chalk. Originally starting as climbing on natural rocks and cliffs, sport climbing was created by setting detailed rules for climbing in nature to enhance its competitiveness as a sport.

There are three types of sport climbing: Bouldering, Lead Climbing, and Speed Climbing.

[Bouldering] Climbing to see "how many courses you can complete"

In bouldering, you climb a wall about 4 meters high using predetermined holds without a safety rope. There are multiple courses to climb, and you compete to see how many you can complete within a time limit.

[Lead Climbing] Climbing to see "how high you can go"

In lead climbing, you climb a wall about 10 to 15 meters high using a safety rope and predetermined holds. You compete to see how high you can reach within a time limit.

[Speed Climbing] Climbing to see "how fast you can go"

In speed climbing, you compete to see how fast you can climb a 15-meter wall with a set course. The courses for speed climbing are standardized worldwide and designed so that you can climb under the same conditions regardless of the venue.

While this is just a brief overview, these are the characteristics and rules of the three types: "Bouldering," "Lead Climbing," and "Speed Climbing."

At the Tokyo Olympics, rankings were determined by a scoring system called "Combined," which used a combination of results from these three types. Japan is a global powerhouse in climbing. Why not take this opportunity to watch "sport climbing"? You will surely be on the edge of your seat, enjoying the thrilling, nail-biting action.