Breakdancing could become Olympic sport in 2024

PARIS - The Organizing Committee for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games announced on Thursday that it will propose four additional sports, including newcomer breakdancing, to the Games, which is pending for validation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Witnessed by guests and media at a press conference at the Paris La Defense Arena, the Paris 2024 organizers announced the proposal to the IOC for the inclusion of breakdancing, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing all embodying youth, elite performance, spectacular experiences and inclusiveness. IOC is expected to make the final decision at the end of 2020 after the Tokyo Olympics.

Breakdancing has no previous appearance at the Summer Olympic Games, but was included at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires last year.

"Breakdancing is a fantastic opportunity to be really in line with the story that Paris 2024 wants to tell. We want those Games in connection with creativity, connected with the youth, more urban, more out of the stadiums.

"For all those reasons, also linked with the culture and art, which is really strong in Paris, we believe that breakdancing is a fantastic opportunity to engage with this new generation. We look forward to working with breakdancing to propose a new experience," Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet told Xinhua.

Skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing have already been added into the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games program.

Paris 2024 revealed that the four additional sports with comprise 12 events, with 248 athletes participating among the total of 10,500 set out in the Olympic Charter.

"This is a major step forward in our ambition to organize unique Olympic Games," said Estanguet.

"Right from the beginning, our aim was to offer Games that would have an impact and the element of surprise. This is why we have chosen to present the IOC with four sports that are as creative as spectacular, geared towards youth and completely in line with our vision. We are certain that breaking, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing will contribute to strengthen our project," he added.

The organizers seek to deliver three key principles in hosting the Games: sustainable and socially-responsible Games in line with Agenda 2020 and the IOC's New Norm, Games in keeping with the times and inspire new audiences and attract young people, and Games reflecting the identity of Paris 2024, which is spectacular, culturally relevant, engaging, accessible, inclusive.

Calling it "a revolutionary experience", Paris 2024 also wants to revolutionize the Olympic experience by offering everyone the opportunity, for the first time ever, to be more than just a spectator or a viewer and play an actual part.

For the very first time, Paris 2024 will invite the general public to take part in the Games by participating in mass events, such as marathon, organized in the same conditions as those faced by the Olympic athletes.

Several formats will be offered to give everyone, regardless of their sporting ability, the chance to savor the Olympic Games experience.

Paris 2024 is currently looking into the possibility of extending the concept of mass events to other sports at the Games.

"By giving everyone a chance to be part of the Games, to experience the biggest sporting event on the planet from the inside, Paris 2024 is leading the way towards new horizons.

"The idea of participating in a mass event on the same day and in the same conditions as the marathon of the Games, to be able to compete against the greatest champions thanks to virtual or connected sports, is a new turning point in the history of Olympism," Estanguet added.

Through virtual and connected sports, Paris 2024 will deliver the Olympic experience to the wider world, enabling people around the globe to take on the best international athletes.

Following proposal made by World Sailing, Paris 2024 wants to include offshore racing as an engagement opportunity alongside the Games, pending the IOC's approval. Thanks to e-sailing, fans will, for the first time in the Games history, be invited to pit themselves virtually against the best in real time and on the very same course as Olympic athletes.

Paris 2024 is also looking to explore other connected sports, adding that cycling and rowing already offer connected events where enthusiasts can ride and row in real time with competing athletes.