WASHINGTON — One new sport is joining the ranks of the Paris Olympics in July, and several others will be making a return after positive reception at their first appearance during the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games.
The International Olympics Committee is hoping to appeal to a new generation of potential young athletes and fans with the newer additions, noting on the official Olympics website that they are "closely associated with young people and reward creativity and athletic performance."
The four sports were also chosen because they're easy to take up casually and form communities that are active on social media, the IOC said.
Here's what to know about the newest games at the 2024 Olympics:
New at the Paris Games
Breaking
Breaking, commonly known as breakdancing, is the only brand new event in this year's lineup. The competitive dance form got its start in New York in the 1970s, but encapsulates influence from all over the world.
While breaking first made its debut at the 2018 Youth Olympics, it didn't appear in Tokyo and won't return in 2028 when the Games come to Los Angeles. Organizers are hopeful, however, that a positive response to the sport this year will pave the way for it to return in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Returning for their second Olympics
Sport climbing
Sport climbing is a triathlon of climbing, with participants performing in three formats: bouldering, speed and lead climbing. An athlete's final score is the combined result of the three competition, with athletes aiming for the lowest time possible.
Alongside the athleticism needed to climb, athletes must also quickly calculate the fastest route in their heads and determine what maneuvers will be needed to take that route — akin to figuring out the solution to a puzzle before fitting the pieces into place.
Bouldering involves athletes climbing walls without ropes within a limited period of time, and being penalized for falls.
Next, speed is a one-on-one elimination format where two climbers attempt to scale the same wall.
The final event, lead, has athletes climb as high as they can on 15-meter walls within six minutes, without being able to see the course before they begin.
Skateboarding
Another 2021 addition to the Games lineup, skateboarding will pit athletes against one another in two distinct disciplines: park and street skating.
Park skating takes place on a course combining bowls, bends and other features that athletes will use to gather speed and perform mid-air tricks. They'll be judged by the height and speed of the tricks, as well as their ability to use the entire course to their advantage over three 45-second runs. The best run will count as their final score.
Street events take place on a straight course meant to replicate an urban street, with stairs, handrails and other features that a skater could find in a city. Athletes are judged based on how they control their board during the two 45-second runs, which will each encompass five tricks.
Surfing
Surfing will also make a comeback to the Olympics, with athletes competing on shortboards, which are smaller, more maneuverable and faster than the traditional longboards seen in movies and on some beaches.
The surfers are scored by five judges on the variety, type and difficulty of the tricks they perform, as well as their speed, power and the flow between one move and the next.
Because surfing is so dependent on getting good waves, Olympic organizers have set a 10-day window for the competition. Athletes will compete on four of those ten days.
Sports you won't see at the Paris Games
A few older Olympic events won't be returning in 2024, in order to make room for the four new sports.
Karate, baseball and softball are all being cut from the 2024 Olympics. Baseball and softball are set to return during the 2028 Games, alongside cricket and lacrosse.
The Los Angeles Games will also see squash and flag football make their Olympics debut.