Breaking, an electrifying dance style with roots in the Bronx of the 1970s, is set to captivate a global audience as it makes its inaugural appearance on the Olympic stage at the Paris 2024 Games. Having evolved from street culture to a recognized competitive sport with international events since the 1990s, Breaking’s inclusion in the Olympics marks a significant milestone. Following its successful showcase at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, breaking joins skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing as a dynamic new sport for Paris 2024.
Olympic Debut of Breaking at Paris 2024
The Olympic breaking competition will feature 16 B-Boys and 16 B-Girls battling for medals in a thrilling format. The competition begins with a round-robin stage, leading to high-stakes quarterfinals, intense semifinals, and ultimately, the medal battles. Each battle is a best-of-three showdown, with athletes engaging in energetic one-on-one contests lasting approximately one minute per round. In this dynamic format, as soon as one breaker finishes their routine, their opponent immediately responds, creating a seamless flow of movement and rhythm.
Competition Format and Judging
Nine expert judges will evaluate the B-Boys and B-Girls across six key criteria to determine the winners. These criteria are creativity, personality, technique, variety, performativity, and musicality. Performativity and creativity are weighted most heavily, accounting for 60% of the score, while technique, variety, personality, and musicality make up the remaining 40%. This judging system ensures a holistic assessment of each breaker’s skill and artistry.
Mark Your Calendars: Olympic Breaking Schedule
For fans eager to witness Olympic breaking history, the dates to remember are Friday, August 9th, and Saturday, August 10th, 2024. These two days are when the B-Boys and B-Girls will bring their high-energy battles to the heart of Paris.
Dates and Times
The Olympic breaking competition will unfold over these two action-packed days:
- Preliminary Battles: Start at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) each day.
- Finals: The competition intensifies with the finals resuming at 2 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) each day, promising peak excitement as medals are decided.
Venue: La Concorde – Urban Sports Hub
The chosen venue for Olympic breaking is La Concorde, a location that perfectly embodies the spirit of urban sports within the Paris 2024 Games. Situated at the foot of the iconic Champs-Elysées, La Concorde will be transformed into a vibrant hub for urban culture, hosting breaking alongside other dynamic sports. Imagine breakers showcasing their incredible moves with a live DJ providing the soundtrack, creating an electrifying atmosphere for both athletes and spectators. The open-air setting will challenge athletes to adapt and improvise, responding to the music and the energy of the crowd in real-time, all while striving to impress the judges with their skill and originality.
La Concorde in Paris, venue for Olympic breaking at the 2024 Games, showcasing urban sports in a historic location.
Events
The Olympic breaking program at Paris 2024 will feature two medal events:
- B-Girls (Women’s Breaking)
- B-Boys (Men’s Breaking)
Get ready to witness history in the making as breaking takes center stage at the Paris 2024 Olympics! Don’t miss the chance to see these incredible athletes compete for gold and solidify breaking’s place in the Olympic legacy.
