It’s that time again for the Summer Olympics. While certain events always draw large viewership, the vast array of athletic competitions that will occur over the next couple weeks show the expansive talent and grit prevalent across the entire games. Everyone is familiar with the more popular sports – such as gymnastics, track, swimming, basketball, soccer, and volleyball – but below we highlight the four newest additions to the Olympics. Learn about the roots and rules of these exciting competitions as well as when to watch them.
Breakdancing
An urban dance style with roots in hip-hop culture. Originating in the United States in the 1970s, it took form at block parties in the Bronx before becoming popularized through international competitions in the 1990s. Making its Olympic debut this year, breaking is characterized by acrobatic movements, stylized footwork, and the presence of a DJ and MC during battles.
Rules: Two events comprised of 16 B-Boys and 16 B-Girls, respectively, who face off in solo battles. Athletes combine a series of power moves – such as windmills, 6-steps, and freezes – adapting their style and improvising to the beat of the DJ’s tracks. The performer who secures the most judges’ votes will advance.
Tune in on August 9 for the B-Girls and August 10 for the B-Boys.
Skateboarding
A young and spectacular sport that developed in the US during 1950s surf culture. Integrated into the underground, alternative culture of the 1980s, representing the values of freedom, rebellion, and thrill-seeking, it became widely accessible at the start of the twenty-first century before making its Olympic debut in Tokyo.
Rules: Athletes will face off in two popular disciplines: park and street. They must perform their most impressive moves, meeting criteria for difficulty, speed, and range.
In the park competition, skateboarders compete in prelims and finals along a varied course that combines bowls and bends they use to gather speed and perform tricks mid-air. Getting judged on the height and speed of their jumps as well as their ability to use the entire surface of the track and its obstacles, each athlete performs three 45-second runs, taking the best as their final score.
Meanwhile, street events occur on a straight course with stairs and handrails to resemble the urban environments where skateboarding started. Athletes perform a range of moves, being judged on how they control their board during two 45-second runs and five tricks they carry out.
Tune in on July 27 for Men’s Street, July 28 for Women’s Street, August 6 for Women’s Park, and August 7 for Men’s Park.
Sport Climbing
A young, mixed-gender sport that has gained immense popularity over the past 20 years. Practiced both outdoors and in a more urban indoor format, over 25 million climbers participate in 150 countries – with 39% of climbers being under 18. Debuting in Tokyo, the originality and visually exciting nature of these events caught the attention of audiences worldwide.
Rules: Sport climbing consists of bouldering, speed, and lead. Two competitions will crown champions in Paris, the first is a combined bouldering and lead event while the second features only speed.
Bouldering gives athletes a limited period of time to climb a 4.5m wall without ropes in the fewest attempts possible. Lead requires athletes to climb as high as they can on a wall over 15m high in six minutes without seeing the route in advance, demanding both physical and mental agility. Finally, speed is a race against the clock that expects spectacular precision in a series of one-on-one elimination rounds.
Tune in August 5-8 to catch the Men’s and Women’s events.
Surfing
The campaign to add surfing to the Olympics began as early as the 1920s led by three-time Olympic swimming freestyle champion Duke Kahanamoku. Finally, a century later, surfing made its debut in the 2020 Tokyo Games. This year, the competition will happen at the legendary surfing spot of Teahupo’o in Tahiti.
Rules: Athletes perform maneuvers and tricks on a wave that will get scored by five judges based on the variety, type, and difficulty of the tricks as well as the surfer’s speed, power, and flow. Shortboards – which are smaller, faster, and more ideal for performing tricks – are the surfboard of choice for the Olympics.
Tune in July 27-July 30 to catch the Men’s and Women’s events.
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