The ultimate sporting excitement is here with the 2024 Paris Olympics, where some new sports will debut and some will come back. These additions promise to bring fresh energy and attract new audiences to the Games. As the IOC states, the 2024 Paris Olympics will focus on gender-balanced and youth-centered Games.

At IMAGO, we dive into the six new Olympic sports we’ll watch in the 2024 Paris Olympics and bring you a fresh wave of excitement with our current event collections from the new Olympic sports.

The Way to the New Olympic Sports: 

Breaking (Breakdance)

Kayak Cross

Sport Climbing

Skateboarding

Surfing

Olympic Cycling BMX Freestyle

1. Breaking (Breakdance)  

Making its debut this year, breaking (also called breakdance, b-boying or b-girling) at the 2024 Summer Olympics is expected to bring creativity and an urban culture feeling with its roots in hip hop and the host country’s particular preference reflecting the rich urban culture of France.

With its remarkable success in the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, breaking made a confident entrance into the 2024 Summer Olympics. Creativity, personality, technique, variety, performativity and musicality will be the criteria for breaking at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

IMAGO / Xinhua / Lian Yi | Kim Hong-yul of South Korea competes at the Olympic Qualifier Series Budapest. , IMAGO / BSR Agency |  India Sardjoe of the Netherlands competing on Breaking - B-Girls Gold Medal Battle at the European Games.

2. Kayak Cross

The other sport that will debut at the 2024 Summer Olympics is the kayak cross, also known as extreme slalom. In this new Olympic sport, athletes will not only compete against the clock but also against each other at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.

The Games will be attended by the world’s top-level athletes, such as Joe Clarke of Great Britain and Jessica Fox of Australia. 

IMAGO / NurPhoto / Dominika Zarzycka | Joseph Clarke of Great Britain finishes first in Men s Canoe Finals of ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Krakow 2024.

3. Sport Climbing

Making its first appearance at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, sport climbing returns for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The returning Olympic game will challenge the athletes in three disciplines: speed, bouldering, and lead. 

After the controversial talks, this year’s Olympic Games will see a differentiation of the competition format. Speed climbing will be separated from other disciplines, while bouldering and lead climbing will remain combined. The new Olympic games will feature the heavy favorite Janja Garnbret of Slovenia, the silver medal winner Miho Nonaka at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and more.

IMAGO / Eibner Europa | Janja Garnbret of Slovenia during the final of the women's Lead competition IFSC Climbing World Cup. , IMAGO / Kyodo News | Miho Nonaka of Japan during the Paris Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest.

4. Skateboarding

Like sport climbing, skateboarding returns for the 2024 Summer Olympics after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the Olympic game is here to stay, with its upcoming appearance in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Originating from Californian surfers who wanted to improve their skills on the land, skateboarding soon became a global phenomenon. It highlights the creativity and individuality of each skater through tricks, speed and overcoming obstacles.

IMAGO / Xinhua / Wang Kaiyan | Gadea Moja of Spain competes during the Women's park preliminaries of skateboarding at the Olympic Qualifier Series Shanghai.

5. Surfing

Not a new but certainly an exciting wave of returning sports for the 2024 Paris Olympics will be surfing. Unlike others, surfing at the Olympics will happen in Teahupo'o Reef Pass, Tahiti, French Polynesia. With its massive, heavy and beautiful waves, it is already certain that the Games will be a thrilling and breathtaking experience for the audience and the athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

From Tahiti’s own Vahine Fierro to one of this year’s favorites, John John Florence and many more, IMAGO’s current event collections will showcase the glory of the waves at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

IMAGO / AAP / Matt Dunbar I Vahine Fierro of France surfs during the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro at Teahupo o, Tahiti.

6. Olympic Cycling BMX Freestyle

BMX Freestyle returns for its second Olympic Games at Paris 2024 after making its competitive debut at Tokyo 2020. Riders will perform tricks and stunts on a specially designed park course. As athletes will push the limits of what can be done on a bike, the audience will enjoy jaw-dropping aerial manoeuvres. 

IMAGO invites you to be part of the impressive moves of BMX Freestyle through its collections from current events. 

IMAGO / Xinhua / Tao Xiyi I  Darren David Kieran Reilly competes during the Cycling BMX Freestyle Men's Park Final at the Olympic Qualifier Series Shanghai. , IMAGO / Xinhua / Tao Xiyi | Anthony Jeanjean of France during the Cycling BMX Freestyle Men's Park Final at the Olympic Qualifier Series.

The new Olympic sports of 2024 will be expected to bring excitement and innovation to the Summer Games.  From the waves of Tahiti to the urban landscapes of Paris, the new Olympic sports will showcase the diversity and skill of athletes worldwide.

Here at IMAGO, we bring you closer to the action, capturing the spirit of the 2024 Paris Olympics. You can license current images of the event, memorable moments from Olympic history and many more.

See more from the new and returning Olympics sports in Paris 2024.