In an effort to appeal to a younger audience, the International Olympic Committee announced on Monday the official inclusion of breakdancing, an art form that saw its pop-culture pinnacle in the 1970s and 80s.
Known as “breaking” among its pioneers and in IOC parlance, the competition will make its Olympic debut as an official sport at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.
(AP Photo/Fernando Llano, File)
The decision to add breaking to the Olympic line up follows a tradition of new add-ons to the games in recent years, such as athletic climbing, skateboarding and surfing.
IOC president Thomas Bach addressed the decision after the executive board’s meeting in Geneva on Monday.
We have had a clear priority, and this was to introduce sports which are particularly popular among the younger generations,” Bach told reporters. “And also to take into account the urbanization of sport.