What is Breaking? Know all about the new sport included in Paris Olympics 2024
Breaking or break dancing has been introduced to the Olympic Games as a new sport in a bid to keep adding fresh perspective and younger audiences hooked.
The Olympic authorities decided to add four new sports to the Paris Olympics 2024 roster namely, breaking, skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing. With a day remaining for the Summer Olympics 2024 to kick off, let us take a detailed look at the new Olympic sport.
What is Breaking?
Breakdance is a special kind of energetic dance form that emerged from the South Bronx area of New York in the late 1970s. This dance is one of the fundamentals of hip-hop culture and includes an array of footwork along with other energetic and acrobatic moves with music in the background. A ‘battle’ features two break dancers against each other in a circular space called Cypher.
When was Breaking included in the Olympics?
The International Olympic Committee, or IOC, announced the inclusion of breaking into the Olympic roster on December 7, 2020. However, it was also a part of the roster in the Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires in 2018. Break dancing was also a part of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines. That said, the sport might be excluded following the Paris Olympics 2024.
How many athletes will take part in Breaking in Paris Olympics 2024?
32 athletes will compete across the men's and women’s events in the Summer Olympics 2024, with two medals up for grabs. The men’s event will be on August 10, while the women will be seen in action on the previous day. The event will take place at the Place de la Concorde in Champs-Elysees for both days.
The direct qualification was sealed through the WDSF World Championships 2023 in Leuven, while continental meets booked spots for the highest-ranked breakers, respecting NOC limits.
The remaining slots were decided through the Olympic Qualifier Series held worldwide from March to June 2024. France, as the host nation, however, had one spot each in the male and female categories.
What is the format of Breaking in Paris Olympics 2024?
The breakers will feature in two 60-second battles, with nine judges voting the winner directly instead of giving a score. During the group stages of the Paris Olympics 2024, the 16 competitors will be divided into four groups, and each of the breakers will compete with all three others in their group. Two from each group will move on to the knockout stages, which will feature three 60-second battles.
Stars to watch out for in the Paris Olympics 2024
In the men’s competition in the Paris Olympics 2024, three-time world champion Phil Wizard and Japanese breakdance star Shigekix will be major contenders for the medal. In the women’s category, American Logistx and the Japanese B-Girl Ami will give fierce competition for the medal.