The Significance of New Olympic Disciplines

Is the emergence of bouldering and breakdancing in the Olympic Games attributable to thrill-seeking audiences and a pursuit of elevated ratings?

The 2024 Olympics in Paris is set to be the most significant event ever held in France.

The Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games seem to signify the commencement of numerous developments. Conducting the opening ceremony on the Seine River rather than in an indoor stadium optimizes in-person attendance, enhances sustainability efforts, and involves a major luxury corporation significantly in the visual presentation of the games. Concurrently, the games are undergoing a form of enhancement. Since the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, additional Olympic disciplines have been introduced, including bouldering, skateboarding, and breaking, among others. This raises the question of why they were initially included in the games and if they hold any relevance to the Olympic Games.

France's b-boy Martin showcased his skills at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, significantly influencing the Paris 2024 organizers to incorporate the sport into the event.

What was the true purpose of the games?

To address this, one must revisit the authentic beginnings of the Olympic Games. The games were conducted about every four years in 776 BC by the Peloponnese in Ancient Greece, roughly 3,000 years ago. The four-year period between editions of the Ancient Games was termed a "Olympiad," and the athletic competitions were subsequently referred to as the "Olympic Games." The precise motives for the games remain unclear, however it is strongly suggested that they were held to venerate the Greek god Zeus; nonetheless, there may be a more profound significance to the story. In contrast to contemporary games, those in ancient Greece resembled a spectacle of power and showmanship, featuring activities such as sprinting, jumping, throwing, boxing, wrestling, pankration, and chariot racing.

Consequently, the victors, in addition to triumph and recognition, were presumably selected as combatants due to their perception as the "strongest" among their contemporaries, embodying a divine form of athletics. This is further corroborated by the official Olympic website, which asserts, “It is difficult for us to overstate the significance of the Olympics for the Greeks.” A quintessential instance is the Persian invasion of Greece in the summer of 480 BC, during which numerous Greek city-states consented to form an allied army; nonetheless, they encountered significant difficulties in mobilizing forces due to the widespread desire to attend the Olympics. According to Paul Christesen, Professor of Ancient Greek History at Dartmouth College, USA, the assembly of the army to defend the nation against the Persians was indeed postponed. This denotes the game's significant impact on military affairs and spirituality.

Transitioning from Boxing to Break Dancing?

What is the transition from boxing to breakdancing? Although the games have eliminated chariot racing, analogous activities persist today. Chariot racing evolved into equestrian sports, whereas pankration resembles contemporary boxing. Both sports require skill and exhibit a degree of pageantry, unlike breakdancing, which, although skillful, has challenges in objective qualification and judgment within its category. Consequently, the excitement for us as viewers arises not from the exhibition of expertise but from the intensity of extreme sports performances. The four OQS sports—BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding, and sport climbing—exhibit comparable traits as dynamic, trendy street sports infused with elements of extreme sports. These sports include high-caliber competition and provide the public with a full Olympic experience that integrates sport, art, music, and culture, generating excitement throughout the community.

Running is one of the few sports activities that persists in the present lineup of the Olympic Games.

A Novel Demographic

The sporting categories in the Olympic Games mirror the setting of their respective eras. The official Olympics website states that the events frequently reflect and occasionally predict societal goals. In recent decades, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has focused on revitalizing the Olympic program and re-evaluating the alignment of competitions and audiences with the interests of contemporary youth. To engage younger audiences and sustain the Olympic legacy for future generations, it is imperative for the IOC to adapt by incorporating additional sports and fostering the development of sports infrastructure. Consider the contemporary significance of the following two sports: when did you last engage in javelin throwing, and when did you last express an interest in bouldering?

Alberto Ginés López ascending a bouldering wall at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Liu, who serves as a vice-president of the International Association of Sports Economists, stated, “The Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS), as a multi-sport event sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is anticipated to garner increased attention and enhance interest in these four sports, especially among the youth.”

Excitement Over Proficiency

Skateboarding, having made its Olympic debut in the Tokyo Games, is scheduled to return for Paris 2024.

Although one can contend that the games are straying from their historical roots, the incorporation of urban sports signifies their evolution to accommodate shifting audiences. The prevalence of urban sports has surged significantly since the 1960s and 1970s. Transitioning from obscurity to prominence, these sports need considerable talent and exert substantial cultural influence, garnering extensive television and online viewership, especially among Millennials and Gen-Z. This year, the urban sports contests will take place at Concorde Urban Park, accompanied by entertainment, concerts, and exhibitions. These events occur simultaneously to engage younger audiences, as they are promoted as a multi-faceted experience.

Disciplines such as breaking and skateboarding will be held in La Concorde, a renowned arena situated in the heart of Paris.

This enhances the interactive experience and maximizes public engagement by relocating attendees from conventional venues to urban environments. This fosters a more inclusive environment and a sense of community. The urban park concept has demonstrated its popularity with the public, as seen by ticket sales. On the inaugural day of the second sales phase, tickets across all categories for BMX freestyle and breaking were depleted in under two hours. The success of these "urban sports" is undoubtedly attributed to its performance aspects (tricks and stunts) as well as the adrenaline-inducing, high-stakes characteristics of the activity. Skateboarding poses inherent risks, and there exists a specific audience that values both impressive maneuvers and notable falls.