Breaking wants to ensure that Paris 2024 does not become an isolated appearance in Olympic history. The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has officially submitted its application to the International Olympic Committee to include the discipline in the Brisbane 2032 programme, eight years after making its Olympic debut.
The move is particularly significant because breaking will not feature at Los Angeles 2028. The discipline was one of the additional sports selected for Paris 2024 but was subsequently left out of the programme for the following edition. Brisbane has therefore become its first opportunity to return to the Olympic stage and, above all, to try to establish a long-term presence.
The WDSF is basing its case primarily on three arguments. The first is economic: breaking does not require the construction of a permanent venue and can be staged on temporary urban platforms, as happened at Place de la Concorde in Paris. This fits with the IOC’s policy of reducing costs and making use of existing infrastructure when organising the Games. The second is its ability to connect with younger audiences and urban culture. The third focuses directly on the athletes. The federation wants B-Boys and B-Girls to have a stable Olympic career pathway rather than depending on individual decisions for each edition of the Games.
“Our proposal for Brisbane 2032 is about securing a long-term future for our athletes,” said WDSF President Shawn Tay. “We proved in Paris that Breaking belongs on the world’s biggest stage. Our focus now is opening doors for the next generation and keeping that Olympic pathway open.”
The bid has been building momentum on the ground for some time. In January, Brisbane hosted the first WDSF World Breaking DanceSport Festival, featuring athletes from more than 34 countries and a full house at Brisbane City Hall. The federation has also backed the project with the international #BreakingForBrisbane2032 campaign.
The proposal now moves into the formal evaluation phase with the IOC’s Olympic Programme Working Group. Breaking has already done what it can: it made its debut in Paris, disappeared from the programme for Los Angeles and is now asking for a second opportunity in Brisbane.
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