02 Jul 2020 15:31
The coronavirus may still be playing havoc with the DanceSport competition calendar, but work nevertheless continues unabated at the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Paris 2024 Organising Committee with regard to Breaking’s possible inclusion at the Olympic Games in four years’ time.
The IOC provisionally approved Breaking for the 2024 Olympic Programme in June 2019 along with Skateboarding, Sport Climbing and Surfing – each proposed by the Paris organisers as additional sports for their edition of the Games. The IOC then earmarked December 2020 as the deadline to make its final decision on the inclusion of the four sports, a deadline that was upheld last month by the IOC Executive Board (EB) in spite of the postponement of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 to 2021.
“For the [Paris 2024] event programme, we have maintained the December 2020 deadline, even though new sports can now not be tested on the Olympic stage, but we need to give certainty to the concerned athletes, their NOCs and Federations and the Organising Committee,” IOC President Thomas Bach said following the IOC EB meeting on 10 June this year.
The decision to stick to the original deadline came after a review by the Olympic Programme Commission that considered the impact on and feedback from key stakeholders, including the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, International Federations, National Olympic Committees and athletes. The Commission argued that maintaining the initial deadline would “provide certainty to all the involved parties” and aid in all aspects of planning for Paris 2024.
The Heart of Paris
While the Breaking community awaits the final decision by the IOC (the exact dates of the December EB meeting will be communicated in due course), the WDSF has meanwhile given its tentative approval to Paris 2024 to host Breaking, should it get the nod this December, on the Place de la Concorde in the heart of the city.
The Organising Committee has proposed that a temporary multi-sport venue be built on the famous square located between the iconic Champs-Elysées and the jardin des Tuileries, with 3x3 Basketball, BMX Freestyle and Sport Climbing also being considered for the venue.
Paris 2024 expects the stadium to provide a totally new experience and to attract new and younger spectators.
“The WDSF remains excited and hopeful about the IOC decision this December on Breaking at Paris 2024,” says WDSF President Shawn Tay. “Our ongoing discussions with Paris 2024 have been very fruitful and we are in full support of their proposed concept to host Breaking, should it be approved, on the Place de la Concorde, which would be a truly magical backdrop for the world’s best b-boys and b-girls to showcase their incredible talents to a massive global audience.”
Youth Olympic Games
A springboard to Paris 2024 for up-and-coming Breakers could come in the form of the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2022, where Breaking will be making its second straight appearance at the multi-sport event for athletes aged 15-18 (for Breaking the ages are 16-18, so anyone born in 2004, 2005 or 2006 for Dakar 2022).
Preparations are well under way in the Senegalese capital, and the IOC says it will confirm the official qualifying schedule and rules for the 4th edition of the summer YOG at the next meeting of its Executive Board on 15 July. The WDSF will announce the details as soon as they become available.
The Rise of ‘Cypher’space
And while we all can’t wait for battles to resume again in the flesh, the WDSF has been busy teaming up with FISE to organise the next best thing – Breaking battles online!
E-FISE Montpellier is a new and innovative online experience that will kick off on 9 July with a video contest open to all b-boys and b-girls. The rules are simple: shoot, submit and share for your chance to advance to the finals, which will be shown live on FISE TV and Eurosport on September 12.
Breaking will join BMX, Rollerblading, Parkour, Skateboarding, Scooter and Wakeboarding with minimum overall prize money of €150,000 up for grabs (€4,500 each for the winning b-boy and b-girl). Fans will be able to vote for their favourite videos online, while a “WEBSTIVAL” featuring online activations will provide festival vibes throughout the competition period.
World Championship and Beyond
Last but certainly not least, a new date for the rescheduled WDSF World Breaking Championship in Nanjing, China (postponed from 2020 to 2021) will be communicated shortly.
In the meantime, stay tuned to WDSF channels for all Olympic-related information and other exciting news in the weeks to come!
07 Apr 2020 07:06
The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has taken the decision to postpone the 2020 WDSF World Breaking Championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Championships were scheduled to take place in Nanjing, China on August 30.
The decision was made to protect the health of the athletes, their entourages, the organisers and fans during this unprecedented time.
The WDSF is currently working with the Nanjing organisers to find a date in 2021 to reschedule the Championships. The new date, along with updated deadlines and qualification procedures, will be communicated in due course.
The WDSF, our Chinese friends and all National Member bodies were excited to see the best b-girls and b-boys compete in Nanjing this summer. We hope that by rescheduling the World Championships to 2021, the event will become a celebration for the entire DanceSport community and we vow to return stronger than ever.
Thank you in advance for your understanding. Stay strong, stay healthy, and see you all in 2021, the Year of the Ox!
16 Jan 2020 12:01
Following the success of the 2019 WDSF World Breaking Championship in Nanjing, China, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) is pleased to announce that the 2020 edition will return to the eastern Chinese city on 30 August.
This year’s Championship will gather over 150 b-boys and b-girls, who will compete in 1vs1 battles for the chance to be crowned world champion.
“We were very satisfied with the outcome of last year’s Championship and are excited to be returning to Nanjing this year,” said WDSF President Shawn Tay. “Most importantly, the feedback from the dancers was quite positive, so we are looking forward to once again seeing the world’s best b-boys and b-girls showcasing their incredible skills in China this August.”
The World Championship will be jointly organised by the WDSF, the Chinese DanceSport Federation, the Social Sports Administration Centre of Jiangsu Province, the Nanjing Sports Bureau, and the Lishui District People’s Government of Nanjing City.
The 2019 WDSF World Breaking Championship featured some 150 breakers from a record 65 countries. B-girl Ami (JPN) and B-boy Menno (NED) are the reigning world champions.
Qualification for the 2020 WDSF World Breaking Championship will be through WDSF National Member Bodies (NMBs). Each NMB can select two b-girls and two b-boys, most of whom will qualify via national qualifiers. The local organisers have the right to also invite a number of the world’s leading breakers in addition to the national quotas. More details will be provided in due course.
Breaking has been provisionally approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to be part of the sports programme for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, following its Olympic debut at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018. A final decision on whether Breaking will appear in Paris will be made in December this year.
In December 2019, the IOC confirmed that Breaking has been included on the sports programme for the next Youth Olympic Games, due to take place in Dakar (SEN) in 2022.
04 Dec 2019 12:44
The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) warmly welcomes the latest decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include Breaking on the sports programme for the next edition of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Dakar, Senegal in 2022.
The IOC announced Tuesday that Breaking would join skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing in Dakar – all four sports have received provisional approval to appear at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, with a final decision set for December 2020. In addition, karate will make its YOG debut in Dakar.
In total, 24 b-boys and b-girls between the ages of 14 and 18 will compete at the 2022 YOG.
“We are extremely pleased with the news that Breaking has been included on the programme for Dakar 2022, as it will once again allow the best young b-boys and b-girls around the world to showcase their talent,” said WDSF President Shawn Tay. “After the great success of Breaking at the YOG Buenos Aires 2018, we will continue to work closely with both the Breaking community and the IOC to ensure that we deliver the best possible event in 2022.”
Since making its Olympic debut in 2018 at the Buenos Aires YOG, Breaking has also debuted at the World Urban Games and enjoyed successful WDSF World Championships.
In total, athletes from 33 sports will compete at the 2022 YOG. For the first time in Olympic history, full gender equality in terms of athletes and representation in each sport will be achieved.
“The Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2022 will be the first Olympic event on the African continent, which is historic for Senegal and historic for the continent of Africa. The agreed athlete competition is youthful and completely gender-balanced and shows that the IOC continues to develop the Youth Olympic Games that will feature over 4,500 athletes from all National Olympic Committees,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.
Read the full IOC press release here.
13 Nov 2019 14:23
The three-day event began on Friday with the master classes with some of the world leaders in Breaking, including Intact (UKR), Katsu One (JPN), Abstrak (USA) and Crumbs (USA). More than 80 athletes took part having the opportunity to pump their knowledge with the experienced mentors.
On Saturday, the competitions started with preselection in eight categories. Following the results of the first day, the strongest athletes proceeded to the final stage of the Russian Open Breaking Championships and took part in the final battles on Sunday, along with the invited participants.
The competitions were assessed by an international panel of judges: Abstrak (USA), Crumbs (USA), Intact (UKR), Niek (NED), Katsu One (JPN), Tuff Kid (BEL), Differ (KOR), and as the head judge of the competition Jamal (RUS). DJ Legioner and DJ Smirnoff took care of the beats, and MC Kazak and MC Scream of the speaks.
An impressive list of invited participants starred the event. The 1vs1 battles were starred by Cheerito (RUS), Alkolil (RUS), Bullet from Space (RUS), Zip Rock (RUS), T-Rock (BEL), Shadr (KAZ), Sirop (BLR), Sarah Bee (FRA), Jilou (GER), Ramona (FIN), Tata (RUS), Vavi (RUS), Klara (RUS) and Kastet (RUS). The team battles were attended by FlipStyle Technique (CAN), Fusion MC (KOR), From Down Town (FRA), East Side B-boys (UKR), Illusion of Exist (RUS), OBC (RUS), Predatorz (RUS) and TOP 9 (RUS).
The WDSF Open B-girls competition had 47 B-girls on the starting list. After the battle for gold B-girl Sarah Bee celebrated her victory and B-girl Jilou took second place. Natalia Kilyachikhina (B-girl Kastet) won the bronze.
WDSF Open B-girls
1. Sarah Bee (FRA)
2. Jilou (GER)
3. Kastet (RUS)
4. Art (RUS)
The WDSF Open B-boys competition had 151 participants. The entire podium was taken by the Russian athletes. In the battle for the main prize Ivan Ososkov (B-boy Alkolil) defeated Nazip Minikayev (B-boy Zip Rock). The bronze medalist was Eugene Pervushkin (B-boy Cheerito).
WDSF Open B-boys
1. Alkolil (RUS)
2. Zip Rock (RUS)
3. Cheerito (RUS)
4. PJ (RUS)
The Russian Open Breaking Championships 2019 ended with battles between teams in a five vs five format. Forty teams, including eight invited, took part in this competition. Top 9 (RUS) became the winner by defeating East Side B-boys (UKR). In the battle for bronze, Fusion MC (KOR) won FlipStyle Technique (CAN).
ROBC Crews 5vs5
1. Top 9 (RUS)
2. East Side B-boys (UKR)
3. Fusion MC (KOR)
4. FlipStyle Technique (CAN)
Congratulations to all participants, winners and prize winners on their successful performance at the Russian Open Breaking Championships 2019!