Paris Olympics 2024: Breaking Debut Takes To The Stage 

Get ready for DJ decks, dizzy footwork and breaking-records. Yes, records in Breaking. The dance form is making its Olympic debut tomorrow, Friday 9 July at 4PM.

Breakdancing – professionally known as Breaking, will kick off at the Olympic Games for the first time tomorrow at 4PM. It will see to the B-Girls Pre-Qualifier Battle first, at the Parc Urbain.

Despite its heritage roots to New York in the 1970s, the two-day Breaking competition defies the stereotypes that it is an all American sport – with competitors coming to Paris from over ten countries including China, Italy, Ukraine, Japan, the Netherlands and South Korea, among many others.

What is Breaking and is it different from Breakdancing?

While breakdancing is the more commonly known term, the original B-Boys and B-Girls adopted the word “Breaking” as an ode to the nature of the dancing, which originally happened in between the breaks of a DJ track. The Olympics have adopted the same name throughout the events in order to honour its culture and history and to preserve its authenticity.

Breaking originated in New York in the 1970s as a dance form at block parties. By the 1980s, it was hitting the mainstream with groups like the Rock Steady Crew and the New York City Breakers, who are believed to have innovated some of the moves you'll see on the biggest sporting stage over the next two days.

The sport’s techniques include standing footwork known as top rock, and floor movements known as down rock. In Breaking, there are also tricks allowed. These are known as the power moves (twists and spins) and the freeze. You probably know the popular 'baby freeze'. Similarly, all freeze movements in Breaking are when breakers freeze in poses while using their heads or hands for support. Another reason to pop down to La Concorde tomorrow!

The longest-running Breaking competition in the world is Battle of the Year, which has been held annually since its debut in Germany in 1990 (it was then called the International Breakdance Cup). The World DanceSport Federation was officially recognized by the IOC in 1997.

Why is Breaking an Olympic Sport?

So, why is Breaking an Olympic Sport? The International Olympic Committee is committed to including sports that are popular and cater to all age groups. In recent years, it has added skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing to the Games as part of that effort. Breaking absolutely fits with this trend.

Officials introduced Breaking at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Argentina where the events' viewership was over 1 million. This confirmed the sports' appeal to a younger generation in its performance, and interest from an older generation who would want to watch it.

The sport was officially added to the Olympic program on 7 December, 2021. Breaking is not scheduled to be included on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic program.