Paris 2024 Olympics: What makes an Olympic sport? 

When we think of the Olympic Games, we think of many well-known events like running, swimming and gymnastics. But have you ever wondered what happened to sports of Olympics past? Karate, pigeon shooting, tug-of-war and even hot air balooning are some of the many sports that no longer feature in the Olympic Games today. So, who decides what stays, what goes and what's added to the fierce competition? And what makes a sport 'Olympic worthy'?

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have been the governing body of these events since they first began in 1896. They are responsible for deciding what sports remain, leave or get added to the Olympic Games every year. It's up to the IOC's Executive Board to propose new sports, to which the rest of the IOC vote for or against. The IOC are also responsible for deciding what criteria must be met for a sport to take its place at the prestigious event.

But not all the power is held in the hands of the IOC alone. Since 2020, the host country of the Olympic Games can also play a role in deciding what sports can be included at their home country. For example, this year's additon of Breaking.

What makes a sport 'Olympic worthy'?

The list of criteria that needs to be met in order for a sport to be considered eligible to take its place at the Olympics, is a lengthy one. It's also important to note that only sports which comply with the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code and the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competition are eligible to be in the programme.

Along with governance criteria – which ensures that each sport is played fairly in line with regulations listed by the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code, the Olympic Movement Code and the International Federation (IF) – there are many more considerations that are taken into account during the picking process of included sports.

Global reach has a massive play in what sports are included in The Games. Understandably, a sport must be widely practiced by men and women in numerous countries and on multiple continents. Specifically, it must be practiced by men in at least 75 countries across four continents and by women in at least 40 countries across three continents. It must also be interesting to a significantly large audience in terms of television viewers and live spectators.

Well Established Rules are also taken into account to ensure that a sport is well organised and understood on a universal level. The sport must have standard rules that are applied internationally at all competition levels. Along with universally understood rules at international competitions, the sport is also required to have a history in hosting competitions and events. The logistical means of a sport are important to ensure that it can be staged at an Olympic level, and in a feasible manner.

There are also ethical considerations when choosing the addition of new sports. The ethics of a sport is usually related to the ethics of the Olympics, which include promoting peace, respect and fairness for all participants. It should not promote any form of discrimination or violence.

The sport should promote gender equality and offer competitions to both men and women. This year's Olympic Games is the first year that an equal number of male and female athletes will compete.

The idea that a host country can have a say in an added sport is a great way for the addition of youth sports to be included in The Games. As briefly mentioned above, this year will see an introduction to another 'urban' sport. These youthful sports will take place at The Parc Urbain.

In addition to the above criteria, there are a few additional things to consider when choosing a new Olympic sport. Things like cost efficency and environmental impact are a definite contender for what sports get the axe and what sports will replace them.

Let's take a look at Olympic Games Past

At least nine sports have been cut from the Olympic Games since their first debut. This number does not include some of the one-time tried and tested sports that were included just as part of their host country's input.

Fittingly, the 1900 Olympic Games – which were the first Games held in Paris – featured a significant number of these cancelled events or demonstration sports. Some of these events included:

Hot air ballooning. It was first introduced to the Olympic Games in 1900. Hot-air ballooning was a popular activity in France having developed there in the late 18th century. This was the only time ballooning had been demonstrated at the Olympics.

The 1900 Paris Olympics also saw a list of watersports never to be competed again. The 200m obstacle swimming, which involved swimming under and over a series of obstacles in the water, was swam in the Seine River. The underwater swim was another sport dropped after its 1900 debut due to lack of spectator appeal. This event also took place in the Seine River and had a limit of 60 metres for swimmers who received one point for every second they stayed underwater and two points for every meter that they swam underwater.

Cesta Punta – an adaptation of the ancient French game jeux de paume was played once and only at the 1900 Paris Olympics.

American Football featured twice at St.Louis in 1904 and 1932 in Los Angeles (LA).

What's new for Paris 2024?

The 2020 Tokyo Games saw an addition of four new sports. Among karate, which we know has since been removed, there was surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing. The latter three will remain at this year's events, as well as the newly added Breaking.

Breaking, or breakdancing, will make its debut to the Olympic Games in Paris on the 9th and 10th of August at the arena of the Parc Urbain. Meeting all the criteria as an Olympic sport, international competitions began in the 1990s.

Along with skateboarding and sport climbing, the urban sport of breaking has been recognised as that, a sport! It will require the competitors to dance to music played randomly by a DJ on the spot.

What will LA 2028 bring?

Currently, the LA28 organising committee have suggested the addition of five new sports to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. Following usual protocol, the IOC's Olympic Programme Commission will issue a recommendation to the IOC Executive Board. If accepted, it will then be presented to the IOC Session for approval.

The five proposed sports are: baseball-softball, lacrosse, cricket, flag football, and squash. Baseball, cricket and lacrosse have all been competed at the Olympics in the past so maybe there's hope!