Breaking at World Games 2022: Preview, schedule and teams to watch
Ahead of its Olympic debut at Paris 2024, breaking comes to the World Games in Birmingham.
Breaking
After making it's Olympic debut four years ago at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, breaking continues to make history, coming to the World Games for the first time.
It will be a fitting warm-up as the sport prepares to star on the Olympic programme in two years time at Paris 2024.
For the uninitiated, breaking is an athletic style of street dance and is part of the World DanceSport Federation.
According to the federation's website, "The earliest innovators of breaking were African-American and Puerto Rican youths. During the ensuing 40 years, breaking has progressed from its Bronx roots into an internationally-recognized cultural art form, with elements of urban dance intertwined with extraordinary athleticism."
Here's what to look for when the action gets underway in Alabama and how to watch right here on Olympics.com..
Breaking at World Games 2022: Schedule
Breaking competition at the World Games runs 9-10 July with men's and women's qualifying set for the 9th and the finals on the 10th.
The complete breaking schedule is available here.
Breaking at World Games 2022: Stars to watch
2021 breaking world champions, b-girl Ayumi (Fukushima Ayumi) of Japan and b-boy Victor (Victor Bernudez Montalvo) of the United States, headline the field in Birmingham.
They'll be joined by fellow world medallists Ami (Yuasa Ami, JPN, silver in 2021), Jilou (Sanja Jilwan Rasul, GER, bronze in 2021), Phil Wizard (Philip Kim, CAN, silver in 2021) and Amir (Amir Zakirov, KAZ, bronze in 2021) at the World Games.
2018 Youth Olympic Games breaking bronze medallist Shigekix (Japan's Nakarai Shigeyuki) is also set to participate.
Breaking at the World Games 2022: How to watch
Olympic Channel will provide full coverage of the event on Olympics.com, including a 24/7 stream and individual sport feeds.
Olympics.com will also have feature interviews and news articles. Look out for more content on the @Olympics social media channels.
In addition, fans in the United States have several viewing options including one-hour highlight shows each day on CBS Sports Network and streaming coverage through Paramount+.
German TV channel Sport1 will also be broadcasting more than 100 hours of action to viewers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.