Breaking, an electrifying dance style born in the Bronx in the 1970s, is stepping onto the grandest global stage. After captivating audiences for decades and evolving into a dynamic competitive sport, breaking is set to make its Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games. This exciting addition to the Olympic program promises to bring a fresh, youthful energy, alongside sports like skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing, which also reflect a modern sporting landscape. Originally showcased at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, its inclusion in Paris 2024 marks a significant milestone for the global breaking community.
The Olympic breaking competition will feature 16 B-Boys and 16 B-Girls battling it out for medals. The format is designed for high-energy excitement, starting with a round-robin phase that leads into knockout quarterfinals, semifinals, and ultimately, the medal battles. Each battle is a thrilling best-of-three contest where breakers face off one-on-one, each taking approximately one minute to showcase their skills. The dynamic battle format ensures a seamless flow of energy as one breaker finishes and their opponent immediately responds, creating a captivating dialogue through movement.
Place de la Concorde in Paris
Place de la Concorde in Paris, the venue for Olympic breaking at the 2024 Games, showcasing the urban sports atmosphere.
So, When Is Break Dancing In The Olympics? For those eager to witness this historic moment, break dancing at the Paris Olympics is scheduled for Friday, August 9th and Saturday, August 10th, 2024. The preliminary battles will kick off at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) each day, building up to the finals which will begin at 2 p.m. ET. Be sure to adjust for your local time zone to catch all the action live. These two days will be packed with incredible athleticism and artistry as breakers compete for Olympic glory.
The venue for this groundbreaking Olympic event is La Concorde in Paris. Known as the urban sports park for the 2024 Games, La Concorde provides a vibrant and fitting backdrop for breaking’s Olympic debut. With a live DJ providing the soundtrack, the atmosphere will be electric. Breakers will need to not only execute their rehearsed moves but also improvise and adapt to the music and their opponents in real-time, all while impressing a panel of nine judges. These judges will evaluate the B-Boys and B-Girls based on a comprehensive set of criteria including: creativity, personality, technique, variety, performativity, and musicality. Creativity and performativity are weighted most heavily, accounting for 60% of the score, while the remaining four criteria make up the other 40%, ensuring a balanced assessment of each breaker’s overall performance.
The Olympic breaking events to watch out for are:
- B-Girls (women’s)
- B-Boys (men’s)
Prepare to be amazed by the skill, style, and sheer energy of break dancing as it takes center stage at the Paris 2024 Olympics. It’s a celebration of urban culture and athletic prowess you won’t want to miss.
