As the eyes of the world turn to Paris, France for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, I excitingly note the Games sporting debut of “Breaking” or Break Dancing as you might know it. There is no denying that the fitness, agility and athletic ability required to Break are equal to or greater than many other Olympics sports.
Should it be an Olympic sport? What do you think?
To keep the Olympics Games relevant Games Organisers have been mindful of attracting and engaging a younger audience. This is directly reflected in recent the inclusions of Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Surfing and BMX Freestyle, BMX Racing being introduced at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Adding Break to that list further builds to their goal of “an inclusive, gender-balanced and youth-centred games with sports that reward creativity and athletic performance”.
Australia celebrated success at the Tokyo Olympics in Skateboarding with Keegan Palmer at just 18 years of age taking home Gold in Mens Park, Logan Martin bringing home Gold in BMX Freestyle, and Surfing with Owen Wright scoring a Bronze, all on debut. We really do punch above our weight in the sporting arena!
On searching for our current Aussie Break talent I came across Sydney Breakers Ba Duc Hoang who started Breaking at 6yo and “Raygun”, Dr Rachael Gunn, lecturer at Macquarie University as well as Fauntine Lariba AKA “Fontz” an osteopath by day, Melbourne B Girl by night.
But talent, practice and passion are not enough. Common denominators in launching any new sport into the Olympics’ is a need for funding, a suitable venue to train, a media spotlight and the country’s support.
How can we help?
As Aussies we can embrace Break with gusto! Give Break the respect and recognise the athleticism required to participate let alone compete in. From someone who is yet to master the Worm I am in complete awe of Breakers!
An additional28 traditional Olympic sports make up a total of 32 Sports that Paris will host during the 2024 Olympics. With technology and human advances and interests it’s natural that some sports would be discontinued along the way.
Looking back at some Discontinued Sports you can get the nostalgia of the inclusions of Tug-O-War and Rope Climbing.
Three sports slatedto be discontinued for Paris 2024 Karate, Baseball and Softball have made wayfor more contemporarily popular sports.
But there is one stand out in the list of Discontinued Sport: Solo Synchronized Swimming, enduring for 3 Games from 1984 – 1992.
You are probably having a bit of a giggle and re-reading it, I had full belly laughs! Surely one of the funnier modern sporting oxymorons.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) are in charge of deciding what sports will or won’t be included. Their evaluation is based one five factors that are split into 35 criteria.
Brisbane2032 will be Australia’s opportunity to highlight new sports, with many sports and associations already vying for a place in that spotlight.
Is there an upcoming/evolving sport that you think should be considered for inclusion in 2032? Have any current Sports reached their use by date?
