Breakdancing will feature in the 2024 Paris Olympics Games according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach; In a bid to make the Games “more gender-balanced, more youthful and more urban”. The organising committee had last year proposed breakdancing, along with surfing, climbing and skateboarding, for inclusion and was waiting on a final review by the IOC's Executive Board.
Breakdancing – or breaking as it is known evolved in New York in the 1960s and 70s as a way for rival street gangs to fight for turf. It, however, made its Olympic debut at the 2018 Summer Youth Games in Buenos Aires. But parkour, a discipline that usually involves running, jumping and climbing over obstacles, has not been selected for inclusion.
The IOC is desperate to refresh the Games sports programme to remain relevant to sponsors, broadcasters and younger fans. Under its new rules first introduced for the Tokyo Games, Olympic host cities can hand-pick sports and propose them for inclusion in those Games if they are popular in that country and add to the Games appeal.
