The 2024 Paris Olympics is creating a buzz as athletes from around the world compete across 32 sports and 329 events. This year, the games have ushered in a new era of athletic spectacle, embracing youth culture and inclusivity through the addition of four exciting sports: breaking, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing. These additions and adjustments to existing events reflect the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) desire to stay relevant and attract a wider audience.

Breaking onto the Scene: Breaking

Making its Olympic debut, breaking, or breakdancing, brought a vibrant energy to the games. This popular acrobatics-infused dance form originated from hip-hop culture, characterized by athleticism, creativity, and rhythmic expression, captivated audiences with its headspins, freezes, and power moves. The competition format featured solo battles for men and women, highlighting individual skill and showmanship. Breaking's inclusion signifies the growing popularity of street culture and its recognition as a legitimate sporting discipline.  

Scaling New Heights: Sport Climbing

Sport climbing, present at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, returned to Paris, showcasing the incredible strength, agility, and mental focus required to navigate challenging climbing walls. Three disciplines – speed climbing, lead climbing, and bouldering – tested competitors in different ways. Speed climbing demanded raw speed, while lead climbing focused on endurance and strategy. Bouldering, on the other hand, emphasized problem-solving and power moves on shorter, more complex routes. Sport climbing's continued presence at the Olympics highlights the growing international interest in this dynamic sport.  

Catching a Wave: Surfing

Surfing, another Tokyo debutant, returned to Paris. The roar of the crowd as surfers tackled the waves created a thrilling atmosphere. This sport celebrates not just athletic prowess but also the connection between surfers and the ocean. Competition categories included men's and women's shortboard, where surfers rode waves for the highest score based on maneuverability, speed, and style. Surfing's Olympic inclusion reflects its growing global popularity and connection to the beach culture.  

Grinding and Flying: Skateboarding

Skateboarding, immensely popular in Tokyo, solidified its place in Olympic history. The competition format mirrored Tokyo's with men's and women's street and park events. Street skateboarding showcased technical skills on simulated street layouts, while park skateboarding challenged athletes to perform tricks on ramps and bowls. The sport's inclusion reflects its thriving youth culture and innovative spirit.  

Evolution, Not Revolution: Changes to Existing Events

The 2024 Olympics also saw adjustments to existing sports. Artistic swimming, formerly known as synchronized swimming, welcomed men for the first time, promoting inclusivity in the sport. Track and field saw a switch from the men's 50km race walk to the mixed relay race walk, reflecting a trend towards gender-balanced events. Boxing added a new women's weight class while removing a men's class, emphasizing equal opportunities. Finally, sailing incorporated two new kite events, showcasing advancements in water sports technology.  

Winds of Change: Discontinued Sports

While embracing new trends, the 2024 Olympics also discontinued three sports including, karate, baseball, and softball. Karate’s viewership has historically failed to generate significant traction with audiences, and the difficulty with baseball has traditionally been due to scheduling conflicts with Major League Baseball (MLB).

A Look Ahead: Embracing Diversity and Relevance

The 2024 Paris Olympics showcased the evolution of the Olympic Games. The inclusion of new sports reflects the IOC's commitment to stay relevant to a younger generation and embrace diverse cultures. The adjustments to existing events promote inclusivity and recognize the changing landscape of sport. Looking ahead, the Olympic Games are positioned to remain a global phenomenon that celebrates athletic excellence across a spectrum of disciplines.