Breakdancing gets Olympic status to debut at Paris in 2024

Associated Press

4 years ago

FILE - In this March 4, 2020, file photo, people wearing masks walk past the Olympic rings near the New National Stadium in Tokyo. Local Japanese sponsors have chipped in a record $3.3 billion to organize the postponed Tokyo Olympics. That's almost 60% of the income for the privately funded operating budget. With the games delayed for a year, sponsors will be asked to sign up again. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Breakdancing has been confirmed as an official Olympic sport.

The International Olympic Committee’s pursuit of urban events to lure a younger audience saw street dance battles officially added to the medal events program at the 2024 Paris Games.

The IOC executive board also confirmed skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing for Paris.

Those three sports will make their Olympic debuts at the Tokyo Games which were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Tokyo opening ceremony is July 23, 2021.

Paris organizers need time to prepare and so the IOC kept its schedule to confirm the 2024 sports this month.