Remember a little while back when there was serious discussion about adding a new “event” to the Olympic Games:
Ballroom dancing?
It was never ultimately included as part of the Olympic programme. If it were..I think it might be a safe bet that the good ol’ USA may have a hard time reaching the top of the medal stand. Not many are better at the samba, rumba, tango and other dances than our European and Latin American friends.
However…we may yet see a form of dancing in the Olympics that my give us a shot at the gold.
Break Dancing!
We recently learned that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has given provisional approval for breakdancing (along with three other actual sports) as a medal event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. It has also ben rumored that the ‘City of Lights’ has apparently been given the go ahead to search for potential venues for the event.
As a child of the 1980’s..I remember with a certain clarity the people traveling with their mats and boomboxes ready to pop, lock and spin at a moment’s notice. The craze sparked a movie franchise. Who could forget this dance with just a simple broom.
To be honest, I’m not sure how to receive this. The last thing I want is for the revered Olympic Games to become (with some events) a glorified talent competition. But there is one thing I do want to know. Who gets to be commentators for the coverage? Do we drag Adolfo “Shabba-Doo” Quiñones out of mothballs to give us his expert take?
We’ve got five years to figure that..and much more..out. A final decision on whether breakdancing and the other sports will be officially added will come in December of 2020.
That’s when we’ll find out if the Olympics may take a noticeable Electric Boogaloo flavor.
Oh..and all you ballroom dancers..stay hopeful. Your turn may soon come too. Maybe the Dancing With the Stars judges will get the first calls to decide whoh gets gold, silver or bronze when that happens.
WELCOME TO MY WORLD!! 