Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Critics say fishing is too boring to watch

The international governing body for fishing has applied for angling to be part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The Confederation Internationale de la Peche Sportive says accepting fishing as an Olympic discipline would enlarge the universality of the Olympic idea because angling is so popular.

Fish caught would be returned to the water unharmed.

But critics say fishing involves too much luck, is incomprehensible to outsiders and too boring to watch.

They reject Confederation president Ferenc Szalay's assertion that angling's "ancient and fair competition system" matches Olympic ideals.

Image copyright PA Image caption Caught fish would be returned to the water unharmed, the confederation says

Fishing is among a raft of sports aiming to secure Olympic status.

Skateboarding, surfing, climbing, Karate and baseball/softball have already been confirmed for Tokyo 2020.

The IOC said it hopes the "innovative" move will draw in new audiences by focusing inclusions on youth-oriented sports.

The five extra sports, which do not replace any of the 28 already on the Tokyo schedule, will include 18 events and involve hundreds of athletes.

Baseball and softball featured separately between 1992 and 2008, but made a joint bid to be readmitted.

Fishing has featured at the Olympics once before - it was an unofficial sport at the 1900 Paris games. Only six nations took part and there is no record of the eventual winner.