Breakdancing at 2024 Olympics:
Breakdancing officially gained Olympic recognition on Monday, marking an exhilarating addition to the Olympic program. This development underscores the International Olympic Committee’s dedication to embracing urban events that connect with a younger and more diverse audience. The 2024 Paris Games have seamlessly integrated street dance battles into the medal events roster, creating a highly anticipated debut for this vibrant and culturally significant discipline.
The IOC executive board also confirmed the inclusion of skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing in the Paris Games. These three sports are set to make their Olympic debuts at the Tokyo Games, which were initially postponed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are now scheduled to commence on July 23, 2021. With these fresh sports, the Olympic Games maintain their evolution by adopting contemporary trends and drawing athletes and fans from around the world.
In tandem with these captivating additions, the IOC introduced several modifications to the Olympic program. Paris 2024 is set to host 10 fewer medal events than Tokyo, with four of those reductions directly affecting weightlifting. The athlete quota for the 2024 Games is expected to be approximately 10,500, around 600 fewer athletes than the Tokyo Games in the following year.
Weightlifting, grappling with historical doping issues and IOC concerns regarding the pace of reform within the International Weightlifting Federation, will see a significant reduction in the number of athletes in Paris.
The sport’s future within the Olympic program remains uncertain as the participation of only 120 weightlifters is scheduled, which is less than half of the total number that competed in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
The IOC emphasized its long-term goals for the Paris and 2028 Los Angeles Games,
Aiming for equal participation by male and female athletes and a focus on more urbanized events.
The proposal for Breakdancing at the 2024 Olympics originated from Paris organizers nearly two years ago, following its successful trials at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. It progressed through various approval stages, including decisions by the IOC board and full membership.
In Paris, breaking will showcase at a prestigious downtown venue, sharing the stage with sport climbing and 3-on-3 basketball at Place de la Concorde.
Surfing will take place more than 15,000 kilometers (9,000 miles) away in the Pacific Ocean off the beaches of Tahiti, a decision already approved in March.
The addition of new events was carefully considered, with no increases accepted, and any changes came at the cost of removing existing events. Two extreme canoe slalom events will replace canoe sprint events, and the men’s 50-kilometer race walk will be replaced by a mixed-gender team event. The IOC explained that limiting the overall number of events is vital for controlling program growth and curbing additional costs.
In other IOC matters, President Thomas Bach confirmed that more than 11,000 competitors at the Tokyo Olympics should not stay in the official athlete village for the entirety of the Games to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infections.
Teams will advise athletes to arrive at their accommodations no more than five days before their competition begins and depart within two days of its conclusion.
Boxing remains on the Tokyo program despite the IOC’s derecognition of its governing body, known as AIBA, last year. An election is underway this weekend for AIBA’s new president, and Bach stated that AIBA is “well aware” of the IOC’s concerns regarding some of the contenders, without specifying names.
Notably, Umar Kremlev, a Russian boxing official who is now a candidate for AIBA president, previously proposed clearing AIBA’s $16 million debts if the sport’s Olympic status was retained.
At the same time, the Court of Arbitration for Sport is preparing to deliver a verdict in a significant case related to the Russian doping scandal. The outcome could lead to extensive sanctions against Russian sports.
When asked about the appropriateness of Russian election campaigns within Olympic circles amid ongoing issues, Bach noted, “It is up to everybody to make his or her own judgment about any such candidatures.”
As we celebrate the groundbreaking journey of Breakdancing at the 2024 Olympics, it’s evident that the stage is set for breaking to take center stage in the world of sports. The Olympic debut of this dynamic and culturally significant discipline at the 2024 Paris Games is a testament to the Olympic Committee’s commitment to embracing urban events that resonate with a younger audience. Let’s join in the excitement of this electrifying debut that promises to make history and inspire a new generation of athletes and fans alike.
