Breakdancing, skateboarding added to 2024 Olympics

Geneva: Breakdancing and skateboarding have been added to the official programme of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced in a statement.

Breakdancing debuted at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), which were hosted by Buenos Aires last October.

"Breaking, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing have been provisionally included on the sports programme of the Olympic Games Paris 2024," the statement from the IOC read. "The decision was taken today by the 134th session of the International Olympic Committee."

The statement from the world’s Olympics governing body also quoted its president Thomas Bach as saying: "The four sports that Paris has proposed are all totally in line with Olympic Agenda 2020 because they contribute to making the programme more gender balanced and more urban, and offer the opportunity to connect with the younger generation."

"The proposed sports are in line with these principles and enhance Paris 2024’s overall dynamic games concept, which focuses on inclusivity, inspiring a new audience and hosting socially responsible Games," IOC President Bach added.

The breakdance competition offers two sets of medals and will include 16 male and 16 female competitors.

"The proposal for the four sports builds on the evolution of the programme from Tokyo 2020 and includes 248 athletes, which will fit within the 10,500-athlete quota, with equal numbers of women and men," according to the statement from the IOC.

"In keeping with its commitment to host sustainable Games, Paris 2024 will use 95 per cent existing or temporary venues to stage the competitions" the statement from the IOC added.

In March, the IOC announced its approval last month for the introduction of breakdance, mountain climbing, skate boarding and surfing competitions on the list of the Olympic competitions in Japan in 2020.

The 2020 Summer Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo between July 24 and August 9 and will see a total of 339 sets of medals up for grabs.

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games will be held in the French capital Paris between July 24 and August 11.