This year’s Olympics will look a little different. In addition to the regular events that people watch — such as Gymnastics, Track & Field and Swimming — the Paris Summer Games will feature new competition and bring back some who made their Olympic debuts. Tokyo 2020. The International Olympic Committee chose to include these sports to “improve its program and overall concept” and “set new standards for inclusion, gender balance and [youth-centered] Games.”
Here is a look at the rules, structure and schedule of four other Olympic sports.
Breakdancing (Breaking)
After conquering the hip-hop world a few decades ago, breakdancing (called “Breaking” by the IOC) will make its Olympic debut in Paris. The sport was first introduced at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
There will be two events for men and women, where 16 competitors will show their skills in “exciting solo battles.” Athletes will use a combination of moves, including windmills, 6-Steps, and freezes, to improve their DJ routines, ultimately hoping to impress the judges and bring home the first Breaking awards in Olympic history. .
The competition will take place over two days, with the women competing on Aug. 9 and the men will enter the stage the next day. The round robin, quarter final, semi-final and final stages will take place on the same day in a few hours. The round robin is set for 10:15 am ET, while the winners will be crowned at 3:15 pm ET.
Sport Climbing
Sport climbing will return for the second consecutive Olympics. It’s an indoor rock climbing competition with a 49-foot vertical wall and three different events. The lead-up event has athletes scaling a 49-foot wall in six minutes blindfolded. According to the IOC, “The routes of this event are more complex and difficult during the event, requiring all the physical and mental abilities of the athletes.”
A climbing competition requires athletes to scale a single wall in single elimination stages. Sections of the walls have grips that make it more difficult to reach the top, and unlike the leading event, the climb happens in seconds. The last event on the list is the boulders, which include a 13-foot wall but no safety rope. Athletes must scale the wall in the fastest time with the least effort possible.
Like Breaking, sport climbing debuted at the Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires before its massive popularity led to its debut in Tokyo. In Paris, the competition is scheduled for Aug. 5-10 and will have a roster increase to 34 men and 34 women.
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is making a comeback after the introduction of electricity in Tokyo. 22 men and 22 women will compete in two stages — in the park and on the street — and in the first and last stages. They will be judged based on weight, speed and types of movements.
The park competition has several curves and bends, which skateboarders will use to build up speed and time to rest for mid-air tricks. Park Athletes will be judged on the length and speed of their tricks, in addition to their ability to use all surfaces and all obstacles. They will do three 45-second runs, with their best three being considered their final score.
Street competition is similar to the urban setting where skateboarding became popular, with a collection of stairs and handrails in a “street”-like setting. Skateboarders will be judged on two 45-second runs and five tricks, as well as how they control their board while running.
Skateboarding will take place on July 27-28 (starting at 6 a.m. ET) and Aug. 6-7 (starting at 6:30 am ET) at Place de la Concorde.
Surfing
Finally, surfing has 48 athletes heading down to Tahiti to ride the famous Teahopo’o wave. The tourists will look to impress the five judges with the variety of their tactics, type and difficulty, in addition to their speed, power and flow. Most athletes will rely on shortboards instead of longboards for Games, using shortboards that are faster and easier to perform their tricks.
Athletes first advocated for the sport to be included in the Olympics in the 1920s, but they got their due a century later when the sport was included in the Tokyo Olympics. The Olympics run from July 28 to Aug. 5, with the gold medal events scheduled for July 31.
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