The Olympics have been around for a long time now — this summer will see the 33rd edition — but the global competition never gets old, and a big reason for that is that the Olympics are evolving. everytimeNew sports and events are continually added, bringing novelty (and attracting a new generation of fans).
This summer’s Paris Games will showcase 32 sports, including many of the classic fan favorites you’d expect to see at the Olympics, like gymnastics, athletics, and swimming. But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) plans to introduce an entirely new sport in 2024: breaking. First featured at the Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires in 2018, the sport will make its Summer Olympic debut in Paris.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about the new Olympic sports, plus important information on updates to some of the existing sports, and get excited about watching plenty of new action this summer.
Firstly, what exactly is disruption?
Olympic Organization explanation Breaking (also known as breakdancing) is an urban dance style with roots in hip hop culture. It originated in the Bronx in the 1970s and then spread internationally, with the first global breaking competitions taking place in the 1990s.
Essentially a dance competition, competitors show off a combination of acrobatic moves, fancy footwork and stylized improvisation. A big part of breaking is the DJ who provides the music: the competitors (called B-boys and B-girls) must instantly adapt their dance moves to the beats played by the DJ, which adds a touch of novelty and surprise to each competition.
How are breakings scored?
In breaking competitions, competitors compete against each other in a one-on-one battle format. Essentially, competitors take turns performing tricks called “throwdowns.” These tricks are short, about 60 seconds long, and each competitor usually performs 2-5 different tricks per competition.
Dancers perform three types of movements: top rock (standing technique), down rock (floor movement), and freeze (holding a pose).
A panel of judges, usually breakdancers themselves, evaluate the throwdowns and score them on six criteria: creativity, individuality, technique, variety, performance, and musicality. After each round is over, the judges share their scores. Ultimately, the dancer with the most points is declared the winner.
At the 2024 Olympics, 16 B-boys and 16 B-girls from around the world will gather to compete for medals in separate events for men and women.
Who will be competing in breaking at their first Olympic Games?
Of the 32 competitors, four dancers (two men and two women) are from the United States; NBC News Reports suggest that so far, the two involved are Sonny Choi and Victor Montalvo.
A native of Queens, Choi became interested in breaking during his freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania and joined the school’s breaking club. Team USA History She began competing in international competitions in 2012 and last year became the first American female breakdancer to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics.