Did you know that tug of war used to be an Olympic sport? It’s true. So did croquet, polo, and cricket. Some Olympic sports have changed over time. The Olympics may stop including a sport for many different reasons. This year, the Olympics will not include baseball. Most of the best baseball players in the world are busy during the summer. They are already playing in Major League Baseball.
Sometimes the Olympics stops including some sports to make way for new sports. The Olympics newest sport is very popular with young people. It is called breaking, also known as breakdancing. Breaking has close ties to hip-hop culture. It began at block parties in the Bronx, New York City in the 1970s. Official competitions started in the 1990s. These helped breaking spread throughout the world. B-boys and b-girls compete in breaking competitions, also known as battles. They mix dance moves with acrobatics. This year will be the first ever breaking competition in the Olympics.
Several other sports are also new to the Olympics. Skateboarding became an Olympic sport in Tokyo, 2021. People ride skateboards through courses with ramps and obstacles. Skateboarders perform tricks and get scores from judges. Surfing will also be at the Olympics for the second time. Surfers ride boards on ocean waves. Surfing and skateboarding are also sports that appeal to young people.
What Do You Think? What new sports in the Olympics interest you the most?
Photo Credit: YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images
