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IOC chief 'admires' breakdance moves as Paris 2024 sports get green light

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AFP Lausanne
Last Updated : Mar 28 2019 | 9:55 AM IST

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach admitted Wednesday that he's a fan of breakdancing's dizzy choreography as the street-wise discipline joined climbing, skateboarding and surfing in getting the provisional nod for the 2024 Paris Games.

"There's a very authentic expression, you feel the performance and the personalities of the athletes," said the 65-year-old after a meeting of the IOC's executive committee.

"I must admit that I admire the movements." The four sports will now be submitted to the IOC's next session in June in the next step for inclusion on the Olympic programme.

Climbing, skateboarding and surfing will make their Olympic debut in Tokyo next year where they will be subject to a "programme of monitoring".

Breakdancing, which is not on the Tokyo schedule, figured in the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires last October which is where Bach caught the bug.

Bach added at Wednesday's press conference that the inclusion of the four sports will make the Paris Olympics "more gender balanced, more youthful and more urban".

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They will "offer the opportunity to connect with the young generation".

Meanwhile, the IOC also announced Wednesday that a working group will be created to to examine possible reforms to the bidding process for future Winter Olympics.

"We have decided to set up a working group composed of five people representing the five continents and presided over by Australia's John Coates," said Bach.

"We have a momentum with many cities and National Olympic Committees who are thinking of candidatures for the 2032 Olympics.

"Times are continuing to change and we have discussed further steps that make the cadidature race even more flexible."
- Doping sanctions call -
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"I hope it will not drag on, that justice will really set an example, that there will be heavy penalties that will act as a deterrent."

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First Published: Mar 28 2019 | 9:55 AM IST

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