Skateboarders to use Games delay to win fans for debut sport

FILE PHOTO: Winner Pamela Rosa of Brazil watches as second placed Leticia Bufoni of Brazil congratulates third placed Candy Jacobs of the Netherlands, following the women's street finals of the Dew Tour Skateboarding Championships in Long Beach, California, U.S., June 16, 2019. REUTERS/Andrew Cullen

(Reuters) - Skateboarders have waited a long time for their first appearance in the Olympics but rather than be despondent over the one-year delay announced on Tuesday, one top-ranked contender said it would give the sport more time to win over fans.

"I think everyone is really excited that skateboarding was going to be in the Olympics for the first time," Brazilian Leticia Bufoni told Reuters. "But everything happens for a reason. I think they made a great decision to move to next year."