Breaking’s Olympic debut will be historic—but its future still hangs in the balance

Perhaps this is what turned this type of dance, which emerged in the Bronx neighborhood of New York in the 1970s, into a global sensation.

This once niche art form has become one of hip-hop’s most popular exports, with competitions and pop cultural glory (think: Step up or fast dance) in her name. Her power and cultural significance have spread throughout the world, and she has fans from France to China.

This year, all eyes will be on cricket, which will make its Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games, giving it an international stage like never before.

Participating in the Olympic Games is the pinnacle of sporting success. The stakes are high, as the Games are trying to attract a small number of people. public By including new sports.

But this year’s debut in Paris doesn’t guarantee breakdancing’s future at the Olympics. The sport was not selected for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, a setback in a journey that in some ways has only just begun.

However, this is a significant moment for breakdancing as well as for the “breakdance boys and girls.” Participation in this year’s Olympics has helped countries adopt a more formal structure for discovering, training and nurturing breakdancing talent. Its exclusion from the next Olympics does not preclude its inclusion in future games.

“It provides a level of cultural recognition and validation (of the breakthrough),” said Jocelyn Wilson, a faculty member in Georgia Tech’s Black Media Studies department. “It recognizes its global impact and influence.” luck.

Road to the Olympics

The Olympic Games, in their modern form, are a 128-year-old institution, and events like athletics are an essential part of it.

Breaking is unlike any other sport in this historic tournament. It began on the streets of New York City more than fifty years ago as one of the four elements of hip-hop culture, along with rap music, graffiti, and playing music.

African American, Latino and Caribbean youth living in economically disadvantaged circumstances, crime-ridden circumstances They were deeply involved in the sport since its early days.

For them, breaking was a form of artistic expression in response to the “break” of the song where the rhythm is amplified. It quickly became an integral part of their culture and was embraced enthusiastically. Immigrants In countries across the pond.

New sports can attract new audiences to the Olympic Games by sparking specific interests. For example, skateboarding was a huge success at the Tokyo Games. His first appearance With 80 athletes aged between 12 and 46 taking part in Tokyo, squash and football will join the Olympics in four years.

“Having a sport become an Olympic sport is a game changer,” said Bourne Barrecore, chairman of the UK-based governing body Breaking GB, which was founded in 2021.

Skateboarding, like skateboarding, was once seen as an amateur activity rather than a serious sport until international events gave it more credibility. But since then, interest in skateboarding has grown. all over the world.

Could the fracture be subjected to similar stress? Maybe.

It has already appeared at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. An IOC spokesman said: luck This break is a perfect fit given its focus on youth engagement and urban sports.

More importantly, the sport’s Olympic endorsement could help open doors for those who aspire to pursue the sport professionally. Communities with deep cultural ties to dance may enjoy greater power and authority than in the past, elevating their skills to a more realistic level on the international stage with the glory that the Olympics bring.

“Paris will put the spotlight on the sport… and we are preparing for that growth. So we are preparing to say, ‘actually, if little Margaret wants to go into coaching in Dorset, there is a way for that,’” said Barricourt. luck“We can reach and inspire communities that wouldn’t necessarily be reached through traditional sports. It’s a sport that inherently encourages those from challenging backgrounds to participate in physical activity.”

Fast food chain Subway was among the supporters of Team GB’s “Peking” team (which did not qualify for the Olympics), citing the sport as “a promising sport” and supporting “movement between diverse communities”.

“Breaking brings together people of all ages, cultures and ethnic backgrounds and continues to grow in popularity across the UK,” a Metro spokesperson said. luck.

The spokesperson added that the partnership with Breaking GB “will help increase access to the sport through major event partnerships (national championships), support for community events (workshops, masterclasses, battles) and funding for training”.

Barricourt said the sport of breaking is clearly still in its early stages as it still faces barriers in the form of limited resources and funding to run training camps to prepare participants for an Olympic-level event. luck.

“We would love to get the funding, but as you can imagine, as a new sport, it all depends on where you get the medals,” he said.

Move cautiously – but make an impact.

B-boys and B-girls will be judged. On five criteria The IOC sets the following criteria: music, vocabulary, originality, technique, and performance. The music used during the competition must also be free of profanity, and competitors’ scores will be based on how they respond to their opponents in a confrontational format.

Some critics have criticized the methodical form of breaking as being at odds with the free flow of this art form, spontaneous nature.

Here it becomes important to strike a delicate balance between global recognition and authenticity.

Events surrounding the sport are becoming more common, with Red Bull hosting one of the most popular Annual competitions since 2004. As with Red Bull pointed outKarate players from all over the world approach the sport differently, some do it to win, while others do it to enjoy an essential part of their culture.

Since the break takes on many meanings depending on who you ask, Wilson said, the Olympics, which kick off on Aug. 9, could either spark controversy or become a bad example of cultural appropriation that fails to honor the roots of the sport.

“It would be really important for the IOC to take this very important step, and also take an important step in recognizing and including the context in which this art form comes from,” she said. One way to do that would be to involve veteran surfers as judges.

The World Dance Sport Federation (WDSF), the governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee that oversees breaking, says it is taking several steps to ensure the roots of the dance sport are recognized. Some of the steps it is taking include engaging prominent figures from the breaking community, educating the public about the history of the sport and ensuring diversity among competitors.

In the view of the International Baseball Federation, Breaking’s exclusion from the 2028 Olympics is not a “permanent setback,” a spokesman for the federation said. luckAs the list of participating sports is reviewed before each edition of the Games, factors such as youth participation, success at the Paris Olympics, and global interest may increase the sport’s profile in the coming years.

But it’s still unclear how the tournament will play out. A successful debut could pave the way for future Olympics opportunities while unlocking funding to support careers in breakdancing. Wilson likened the promise of breakdancing to sports like basketball and soccer, which have served as anchors for young athletes to lift themselves out of poverty or deprivation.

“It is a platform that can help preserve and celebrate the culture from which show dance originated,” she said.