For more than a decade, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has worked diligently to improve Olympism's innovation, credibility and sustainability. Starting today in Shanghai is another step in the direction of keeping the Olympics closer to young people. The world's best freestyle BMX cyclists, B-boys and B-girls, skaters and climbers will gather starting this Thursday for the Olympic Qualifying Series (OQS), a unique multisport event of its kind.
For the first time, athletes from these four sports will compete together in the same tournament in a single city park. The first of his two dates for OQS will be held in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Activities will then move to Budapest in June to decide which athletes will take part in the next Olympics. In total, he will have more than 150 spots for the 2024 Paris Games.
Kit McConnell, International Olympic Committee Sport Director, said: “We have two great host cities and all activities will take place in an urban environment, bringing together a festival atmosphere, music culture and sport.” praised.
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break. climb. skate. get on.
A direct result of the IOC #OlympicAgendathe first-ever Olympic qualifying series will be held in Shanghai this week in an exciting new format.
IOC Sports Director @kit_mcconnell Tell us all about it and what to expect ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/dc8sLEBTza
— IOC Media (@iocmedia) May 13, 2024
Australian Logan Martin and Briton Charlotte Worthington top the freestyle BMX bike charts, while Indonesia's Leonardo Vedrick and Japan's Miho Nonaka are the headliners of the opening day's climb.
Skateboarding features Olympic medalists such as Skye Brown, the youngest British athlete in history to reach the Olympic podium. And Japan's Yuto Horiyone, the great champion of Tokyo 2020. Breaking, an event that will make its Olympic debut in Paris 2024, completes the show's menu. B-Girl Ami, B-Boy Jeffro and Logistx from the US will fight on the asphalt of China before heading to Budapest to secure passage to the French capital by July.
Both the IOC and local organizers hope the event will generate a lot of positive feedback and interaction with fans. “This is a very special project. It helps to highlight important innovations in the Olympic program. It started in Tokyo with a new sports proposal. Younger, more urban, more Women. Paris will be the first fully gender-equal Olympics in history,” McConnell added.