Breakdancing to be introduced as new Olympic sport for Paris 2024 – with skateboarding, surfing and climbing to stay on after debuting in Tokyo next year.
The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) held a meeting on December 7 and agreed to add four major events, break dancing, skateboarding, rock climbing and surfing, to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The street dance – which will be known as ‘breaking’ at the Games – has been added by the International Olympic Committee as they look to have a ‘strong focus on youth’. It was also confirmed on Monday that skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing, which are set to make their debuts at next summer’s Olympics in Tokyo, will stay on the programme for Paris. Skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing are already part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which has been postponed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The three sports had been proposed along with karate by the Japanese hosts.
In addition, the specific minor items of some major items will also be adjusted. Compared with Tokyo Olympic Games, 2024 Paris Olympic Games will be further reduced in the size of the games. The number of athletes has been reduced from 11092 at the Tokyo Olympics to 10500. In terms of the total number of events, the Tokyo Olympic Games has 339 events, and the Paris Olympic Games will be reduced by 10. Of all the major events, weightlifting is the most affected. A total of four items were removed from the Olympic Games. Paris Games organisers have said they want to deliver a programme that is in keeping with the times and will attract a new and younger audience. But the request of the International Gymnastics Federation to add parkour – a street activity involving running, jumping and climbing over obstacles – was rejected.
