Throughout its history, the Olympics have helped legitimize a number of growing sports. Now, after months of speculation, the International Olympic Committee has confirmed the addition of a number of new sports, including breakdancing. Breaking will be included in the competition for the first time during the 2024 games in Paris.
In an attempt to attract a younger audience, the IOC has added a number of athletic competitions in recent years. Already, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing are set to make their Olympic debut at the 2021 games in Tokyo, and now the long-rumored breakdancing competition has officially been added as well. According to the Olympics 2019 program commission report, an estimated one million people around the world take part in breakdancing.
That number will surely grow, as the Olympics bring in a new audience to the dance-off competitions. “The biggest part is your stage presence and character and your rhythm, whether or not you’re really feeling it,” said competitive breakdancer, Ronnie Abaldonado. With breakdancing now officially being considered a sport, it’s only a matter of time before the level of competition is raised.
Via NME