Huge change to Olympic schedule for first ever surfing finals with Tokyo set to be hit by a wild tropical storm - but the windy conditions may help Aussies clinch gold 

• Surfing is to be brought forward to Tuesday due to wild storm arriving in Tokyo
• Windy conditions to deliver better waves and could prove a winner for Team Aus 
• Sally Fitzgibbons and Owen Wright are both looking to clinch gold medals 

Surfing's first Olympic finals are to brought forward 24 hours to Tuesday because of the tropical storm set to hit Tokyo.

The predicted high winds are expected to deliver better waves, persuading Games officials to adjust the surfing schedule.

Australian pair Sally Fitzgibbons and Owen Wright revelled in the windier conditions to book quarter-final berths on Monday and might benefit from the tropical storm in their pursuit for gold.

'After a review of the surf conditions forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, tournament officials have decided to move the women's and men's Olympic surfing finals from Wednesday to Tuesday,' said a Games statement.

'The International Surfing Association technical director assessed the overall impact of the surf forecast on the final day of competition and adjusted the schedule.'

The men's quarter-finals will now take place at 7am, followed by the women's quarter-finals at 11.12am.

The men's semi-finals have been scheduled for 11.48am and the women's semi-finals for 1pm.

Bronze medal matches will start at 2.16pm (men) and 3.01pm (women), with the men's gold medal at 3.46pm and the women's gold medal at 4.31pm.

Tokyo organisers had said earlier they were not planning to reschedule more events for the Games as tropical storm Nepartak churned toward Japan's main island.

Rowing and archery events have been moved due to the storm which is expected to head over Japan's northeast coast on Tuesday and could bring heavy rain to the capital.

Rowing races were rescheduled for later in the week, while Monday's events were moved to Sunday in anticipation of the storm.

The rain also threatens Tuesday's two medal games for softball. Canada, vying for bronze, said their flights home are scheduled for Wednesday with the next available potentially not until Saturday because the pandemic has limited options.

The storm is forecast to pass to the north of Tokyo, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.