Break Dancing’s Olympic Debut: New Addition to Unconventional Sports
Salekin
Editor & Writer
At the 2024 Summer Olympics, break dancing, also known as breaking, is set to debut on the Olympic stage for the first time. It is the newest addition to the Olympics after surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing. With this addition, the International Olympic Committee wants to make the Olympic Games more attractive to young audiences.
What is Breaking and What is its History?
Breaking emerged during the rise of hip-hop music in New York City in the 1980s. It became a staple in the Bronx community, particularly among the black and Puerto Rican communities. DJ Cool Hark, known as the father of hip-hop, is credited with inventing breaking, seeing his audience start dancing during breaks in music. At the time, the Bronx faced difficult challenges amid the crack epidemic and rising violence, and breaking was seen as a positive διέξοδος in the community. As hip-hop gained popularity, the sport began to spread.
Tech News
What factors do judges consider when evaluating breaking performances at the Olympics?
Both B-Girls and B-Boys compete against each other in a tournament-style battle. The competition is structured in three rounds, with the athlete securing victory in two of those rounds and being declared the winner. A panel of nine judges will score the dancers based on six criteria: creativity, personality, technique, variety, performance, and compatibility with the music. Presentation and creativity will count for 60% of the score, while other elements hold 40%. Judges will use a digital slider to score athletes during their rounds.
Arrival of Other Non-Traditional Sports in the Olympics
Skateboarding events are scheduled to run from July 27th through August 7th. The US and Japanese men’s teams are seen as top contenders.
Sport climbing: Sport climbing will make a comeback after Tokyo, with the return of 22-year-old Colin Duffy, who was the youngest Olympian on the Tokyo team.
Surfing: The surfing competition will be held over a 10-day period in the historic village of Tihupo on the island of Tahiti, known for some of the world’s biggest waves.
A fun fact: Breakers at the Olympics can’t know in advance what music they’ll be dancing to. The DJ will be in charge of breaking music for Paris and the dancers will have to dance to random music.
Sport climbing: Sport climbing will make a comeback after Tokyo, with the return of 22-year-old Colin Duffy, who was the youngest Olympian on the Tokyo team.
Surfing: The surfing competition will be held over a 10-day period in the historic village of Tihupo on the island of Tahiti, known for some of the world’s biggest waves.
A fun fact: Breakers at the Olympics can’t know in advance what music they’ll be dancing to. The DJ will be in charge of breaking music for Paris and the dancers will have to dance to random music.
The Future of Breaking
Currently, there is no scheduled breaking competition at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. So, this year’s Games may be the only chance for the world to see breaking on the Olympic stage.
Conclusion
The inclusion of break dancing in the Olympics is a historic moment. This isn’t merely the introduction of a new sport; it symbolizes the Olympics’ broadening embrace of diversity and inclusion. This addition is expected to make the Olympics more relevant and attractive to billions of young people worldwide.
Do Not Forget To Share This Post
Recent News
