New Sports in the Olympics

Every four years, top athletes from around the world gather to prove that they are the best in their field. From gymnastics to diving to rugby, the athletes demonstrate their skills in a variety of globally broadcasted events. After two to three weeks, a select group of internationally ranked athletes are crowned the best in the world. 

The ancient Olympic Games began in 776 BC, but the modern Olympics began in 1896. Since then, the list of sports involved has greatly increased. At its inception, the Games included long jump, shot put, pankration, running, javelin, boxing, and equestrian events. At every Games since then, the range of sports has evolved to include more events and more athletic opportunities.

This past summer, the International Olympic Committee added six new sports to the Summer Games-- the most new additions to a single Olympic cycle since 1920. The list includes surfing, sports climbing, karate, skateboarding, softball, and baseball. At the 2020 Games, athletes in these sports quickly established themselves as the preeminent competitors in their respective disciplines. For example, in mens’ surfing, Italo Ferreira of Brazil came out on top. Ryo Kiyuna from Japan took the gold for karate, and Keegan Palmer of Australia went home with the gold medal for skateboarding. In almost every sport, the newest generation of athletes has begun to pave the path for the future. In skateboarding alone, two of the womens’ medals went to athletes under the age of 15. 13-year-old Sky Brown from Great Britain won the bronze medal, and 14-year-old Momiji Nishiya from Japan won gold. 

The tide is already turning on the conventional definition of the Olympics that so many of us have grown up with. Many prominent sports commentators have stated that they believe that e-sports will eventually be integrated into the Olympics. Some even believe that if e-sports are not gradually incorporated, the Games will lose their contemporary appeal. 

While we won’t get to witness e-sports just yet, the world will still be shocked by the latest addition to the register of sports at the Paris 2024 Games: breakdancing. Professionally referred to as “breaking,” the sport will feature the best breakdancers from around the world. The next Olympics will also omit a few of the newer additions to the list of sports, including softball, baseball, and karate. In addition, the facilitators of the Games have proposed major changes to the Games, including doing away with the traditional opening ceremony. Instead, the committee is considering having several ceremonies and events throughout the city of Paris as a means of uniting viewers, after the limitations of the past few Games caused by COVID-19.

All in all, the traditional definition of the Olympics Games is changing, and the world’s perception of sports is changing with it. We can’t predict the exact changes coming with the next Games, but we will be watching in eager anticipation!