FILE PHOTO: A breakdancer performs at Beirut’s Corniche, a seaside promenade in Beirut, Lebanon March 12, 2017. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi/File Photo
June 25, 2019
By Karolos Grohmann
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (Reuters) – Breakdancing and three other sports took another step toward appearing at the Paris 2024 Olympics after the International Olympic Committee on Tuesday voted in favor of their inclusion.
The Paris 2024 organizing committee in February proposed surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing as well as breakdancing for inclusion in the Games and the IOC’s executive board gave the initial green light in March.
On Tuesday the IOC session voted unanimously for their inclusion in the 2024 program, but the sports face one final review in late 2020 before a final decision is taken, IOC President Thomas Bach said.
Surfing, climbing and skateboarding will be part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and their performance as new sports there will be monitored by the IOC before a final decision is taken on their inclusion in Paris.
It is planned that the four sports will have a total 248 athletes, split evenly between men and women.
Paris Games organizers said they want to deliver a program that is in keeping with the times and will attract a new and younger audience.
Under new IOC 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.
The IOC is eager to refresh the Games’ sports program to remain relevant to sponsors, broadcasters and fans.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Toby Davis)
