The correct term is “breaking” and, since an IOC vote in December 2020, there will be Olympic gold medals in 2024 won by the world’s best breaking dancers.īreaking is one of the most unusual sports ever added to the Olympics program, given it has always been considered mostly edgy artistic expression (although an argument could also be made for artistic, formerly known as synchronised, swimming).īreaking in New York, ’80s style.
So, how did a dance style born on the streets make it all the way to the five-ring circus? What are the attributes of the athletes involved? And, when it comes to deciding a gold medal, will it be a good old-fashioned dance-off?Ī small point of order to start.
Having seen her sport miss out on an Olympic spot during the IOC’s four-yearly review process, Australian squash star Michelle Martin said the decision made a mockery of the Olympics. Many traditionalists are aghast, and debate rages about whether breaking is a sport, let alone an Olympic one. Most of the usual Olympic staples remain – there are about 25 core sports, from athletics and swimming to gymnastics and equestrian – but now they have younger, noisier neighbours. The IOC had observed the average age of audiences for Olympics creeping up, and decided to open the doors to events such as surfing, skateboarding, three-on-three basketball, sport climbing and breaking. The inclusion of breaking has come as part of a push by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over the past decade to modernise itself and to appeal more to a youthful audience. And not just any sport, it's an Olympic sport – following a bold decision by the International Olympic Committee to have BBoys and BGirls compete at the 2024 Paris Games. It is a pastime we usually associate with New York in the 1980s, Run DMC and that guy from accounts doing the worm after a few drinks at the work Christmas party.īut breakdancing is now not only a famous hip-hop dance style, it is a sport. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size
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