atmosphere, Snoop Dogg, first title… At the Concorde, breakdance experienced a historic Olympic entry

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games hosted the first breakdancing competition in Olympic history, with the women’s tournament on Friday.

A round dance floor in black and purple tones has replaced the 3×3 basketball hoop. In a humid heat, the audience waits with trepidation for the first notes of music to rise from the turntables. A remix of “Silver and gold” by Tom Zé, and the first dancers are launched. In unison, the DJs and the b-girls gave, Friday August 9, shortly after 4 p.m., the kick-off of the Olympic adventure of breakdancing, added to the Paris 2024 program after having been emulated at the Youth Games in Buenos Aires in 2018.

On Friday, at the Concorde, there was something new and unprecedented in the Parisian air. “Today is historic, because breakdancing is at the Olympic Games”shouted the host of one of the demonstrations centered around the break, an hour before the first battle. “He is super important because we will be visible all over the world, it will be broadcast”says Niko Noki, a former French dancer who will attend the men’s competition on Saturday.

The public, too, is won over by the idea of ​​attending this premiere. “I’m really happy that we’re talking about the break, I feel like the Olympics have already shed a lot of light”rejoiced Walid, 16, who came with his group of friends with whom he practices the discipline as a hobby. For him, the arrival of breakdancing at the Olympics “really makes it recognized as a sport as much as a dance”. Among the spectators, oWe find a clever mix of insiders and novices, who all agree that breakdiving has its place in the great Olympic mass. “The movements they do, the intensity, it’s no less impressive than gymnasts or artistic swimmers.”assured Natacha, who came with her two small children for “discover something new”.

On Friday, the discipline showed itself to the world while retaining its particularities cultivated since its appearance on the streets of New York in the 70s. Like a symbol, it was Snoop Dogg, a figure of rap and hip-hop, who opened the session with the three shots, whose announcement music by Jean-Baptiste Lully seemed almost anachronistic. At the microphone, two masters of ceremonies to bring the competition to life, introduce the b-girls, disseminate the rules and warm up the audience. From the first battle“Talash”, from the refugee team, who fled Afghanistan at the age of 19, has displayed the message “free Afghan women” on a cape.

The passages followed one after the other with little downtime, and a very varied level. “It was so good, I felt the energy of the audience, they really carried me”enjoyed with a smile the young French Sya Dembélé “Syssy” (16 years old) at the end of the group stage. Overall, the b-girls appreciated the party atmosphere and the organization of the competition. The fears of seeing the discipline changed too much to fit the Olympic mold were real in the environment. “I’m so happy that we had this platform, the music that we’re used to expressing ourselves to, without restrictions, great emcees, our b-girl names, it really sounds like everything we’re used to.”greeted the Australian “Raygun” after the group stage.

Despite some showers, and the competition of the extra time of the football final broadcast on the giant screens in the rest of the urban park, the break remained the main attraction until the end of the evening for the 5,500 spectators. Not the largest audience in front of which the b-girls danced, but undoubtedly the most singular. “These are people who come with a new eye, so you feel that when they vibrate, it is with a lot of sincerity”the other Tricolore, “Senorita Carlota”, was moved.

After six battles In less than six hours, the Japanese “Ami” was crowned the first Olympic break champion, winning in three rounds against the Lithuanian “Nicka” in the final, at nightfall. A few minutes earlier, the first medal, bronze, had been awarded to the Chinese “671”. A first, and perhaps already a last, since theThe discipline, which was almost fleetingly present in Paris, was not repeated in Los Angeles in 2028. “It’s maybe the only time we dance at the Olympics, I wanted to take advantage of it”acknowledged “Syssy”, eliminated in the quarter-finals. Before leaving, the break especially succeeded in its grand entrance. And there is one day left, Saturday, to enjoy it.