Breaking, a popular form of street dance, has made its debut at the Olympics in Paris. While Team GB didn't qualify, dancers at Glasgow's Studio 22 are continuing to train and perfect their moves. With breaking now being an official Olympic sport, teacher and B-girl Emma Ready hopes it brings more attention and funding to the scene. Our BBC reporter, Cameron Angus-Mackay, gets a taste of this new addition to the Olympics and how it's not as easy as it looks.
Breaking: The Newest Addition to the Olympic Stage
Breaking, a vibrant and energetic form of street dance known for its athleticism and improvisation, has made its Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Games. While Great Britain's team failed to qualify, dancers across the globe are embracing the opportunity to showcase their skills on the world's biggest sporting stage.
Background:
Breaking emerged in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York, as a form of expression for marginalized communities. It quickly spread to urban areas worldwide, evolving into a global phenomenon with its own culture, battles, and tournaments.
Olympic Debut:
After years of lobbying and recognition as an official sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), breaking was included in the 2024 Olympic program. The competition will feature both male and female categories, with dancers performing in two rounds: a preliminary round and a final round.
Glasgow's Studio 22:
Glasgow's Studio 22 is one of the leading breaking training facilities in the United Kingdom. With the sport now being an Olympic discipline, teacher and B-girl Emma Ready hopes to see increased recognition and funding for the scene.
Challenges and Techniques:
Breaking is not as easy as it looks. Dancers need to possess exceptional strength, coordination, and flexibility to execute the complex moves and acrobatic stunts. Key techniques include top rocks (footwork and upper body movements), down rocks (floor-based moves), power moves (flips and spins), and freezes (holding a pose).
Top 5 FAQs:
1. What are the rules of Olympic breaking? A: The competition consists of two rounds, with 16 dancers in each category. In the preliminary round, dancers perform two one-minute routines, with the top eight advancing to the final. In the final, each dancer performs a 90-second routine, followed by a 15-second battle against another dancer.
2. Who are the favorites to win at the Olympics? A: Some of the top contenders include B-Boy Shigekix (Japan), B-Girl Ami (France), and B-Boy Hong10 (South Korea).
3. What is the significance of breaking in the Olympics? A: The inclusion of breaking recognizes the cultural and artistic value of street dance and provides a platform for dancers to showcase their skills. It also aims to increase participation and promote diversity in the Olympic Games.
4. How can I become a better breaker? A: Consistent practice, studying videos of top dancers, and attending workshops and competitions are key to improving your breaking skills.
5. What is the future of breaking in the Olympics? A: Breaking's inclusion in the Olympic Games is a significant milestone, and it is expected to continue to grow in popularity and attract talented dancers from around the world.
India’s women’s cricket team skipper, Smriti Mandhana expresses disappointment over her team’s fielding performance in the first ODI against Ireland. Despite registering a comfortable victory, Mandhana believes that the team needs to improve in the fielding department and restrict the opposition to lower scores. She also praises the bowling unit for their efforts in challenging conditions and highlights the importance of executing plans in upcoming matches.
In a dominant performance, the Indian women's cricket team defeated Ireland by six wickets in the first match of the three-match series in Rajkot. Despite being without captain Harmanpreet Kaur and bowler Renuka Singh Thakur, India showed no signs of struggle as they dismissed Ireland for just 56 runs. Medium pacer Titas Sadhu and spinner Priya Mishra were the stars of the show, taking three wickets each.
La Liga team Atletico Madrid has criticized the Spanish National Sports Council's decision to allow Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo to play on a temporary basis after his license had expired. According to the club, this government intervention sets a dangerous precedent and calls into question the rules of the game. Other clubs, including Las Palmas, have also expressed concern about how this decision could impact the integrity of the competition and destabilize professional football in Spain.
After repeated rejections by La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation, Barcelona successfully appealed to the Higher Sports Council to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. However, their registration is only valid until the CSD reaches a final decision in April, leaving the team with a limited timeline to utilize their talents in crucial matches. The stakes are high as Barcelona must secure favorable results in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League during this period, making the CSD's decision a crucial factor in their success.
The Indian women's cricket team, led by Smriti Mandhana, takes on Ireland in the first ODI of a three-match series. With the hosts coming off a series sweep against the West Indies, Mandhana and her team will look to continue their dominant form. However, Ireland's Prendergast brings valuable experience from playing in Australia and could prove to be a key player for the visitors in this highly-anticipated match.
In a thrilling match at the Kotambi Stadium, Rajasthan's opener Abhijeet Tomar's brilliant century and a five-wicket haul from Tamil Nadu's Varun Chakaravarthy made for an exciting game. Tomar's partnership with skipper Mahipal Lomror set the foundation for Rajasthan's first-ever victory over Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. They will now face Vidarbha in the quarterfinals on Sunday. Additionally, Haryana dominated Bengal with all-round performances from Parth Vats and Nishant Sandhu, securing a 72-run win.
In a thrilling match in the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane led Al Nassr to a 3-1 victory over Al Okhdoud at the Awwal Park in Riyadh. The two star players each scored a goal, with Mane scoring a brace and Ronaldo scoring his first goal of 2025. The win propelled Al Nassr to third place in the league table with 28 points from 14 matches. Don't miss out on the excitement, subscribe now to catch all the action.
Real Madrid secured their spot in the Supercopa final after a thrilling match against Mallorca. They will now face off against their arch-rivals Barcelona in a highly anticipated final in Jeddah. Stay tuned for updates and post-match reactions.
In a thrilling match between Real Madrid and Valencia, Vinicius Junior's red card became the main talking point. After pushing Valencia's goalkeeper and receiving a straight red, the Brazilian forward's hopes of celebrating a victory seemed dashed. However, thanks to late goals from Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham, Madrid secured a 2-1 win. Vinicius later took to social media to apologize to his teammates, while manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that the club will appeal the red card. According to MARCA, the Spanish Football Federation is considering a two-game ban for Vinicius instead of the customary four-match suspension for violent conduct, as they acknowledge that he was provoked by the opposing player.
In a recent conversation with The Athletic, Mallorca right-back Pablo Maffeo opened up about an old compliment he received from Lionel Messi. The Argentinian superstar had labeled Maffeo as the "toughest defender he's faced" after a game in 2017. The 20-year-old defender sees this as a trophy and is now set to face off against another superstar, Vinicius Junior, in the upcoming Supercopa de Espana. This will be the 11th time that the two players will face each other, with a record of four wins each so far. Interestingly, Messi has never scored against Maffeo in their previous encounters.