OLYMPIC GAMES
Will breakdancing be an Olympic sport at 2028 Los Angeles games?
One of the new additions to the world’s premier sporting event has already been chopped for the next games.
Despite being a new Olympic addition for Paris 2024, break dancing is not making a return at the next games in Los Angeles, raising questions about its long-term status in the Olympic framework.
The inclusion of breaking in the Paris 2024 Olympics is part of the Paris games’ plan to incorporate sports that resonate with younger demographics, similar to the additions of skateboarding and sport climbing.
What is break dancing?
Breaking originated in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York City, as part of the hip-hop movement. It combines acrobatic movements, intricate footwork, and a strong musical component, evolving from informal street dance battles to a more structured competitive format.
The sport gained recognition through events like the International Battle of the Year, established in 1990, and was introduced to the Olympic stage during the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018.
For LA, breaking has been cut from the program in favor of five other sports: flag football, cricket, squash, lacrosse, and baseball/softball. The decision was confirmed by the Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee, believing the new sports reflect community interests in the US.
“The choice of these five new sports is in line with the American sports culture and will showcase iconic American sports to the world, while bringing international sports to the United States. These sports will make the Olympic Games LA28 unique,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “Their inclusion will allow the Olympic Movement to engage with new athlete and fan communities in the US and globally.”
The World DanceSport Federation said “While profoundly disappointed with the LA28 decision, [we are] proud of all that it has accomplished, together with the Breaking community, in an extremely short amount of time.”
What about in future games?
No decision has yet been made on future Olympic games. The World DanceSport Federation is advocating for breaking’s return in future Olympics, such as the Brisbane 2032 Games.