Olympic Qualifier Series magical moments

Article posted by Coliseum, October 18^th, 2023

Image: Shanghai Administration of Sport

Shanghai (China) and Budapest (Hungary) have been selected as hosts for the Olympic Qualifier Series, a new series of festival-style events combining sport with the urban culture.

‘International Olympic Committee’ stated that the above decision was confirmed recently by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The two-part series, taking place in the period leading up to the Olympic Games Paris 2024, will be an important step in determining which athletes qualify in BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding, and sport climbing for Paris 2024.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is a not-for-profit, civil, non-Governmental, international organization made up of volunteers which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 percent of its income to the wider sporting movement, which means that every day the equivalent of USD 4.2 million goes to help athletes and sports organizations at all levels around the world. The IOC organizes the Summer, Winter and Youth Olympic Games and was formed in Paris (France) in 1894. It’s headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.

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The 2024 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad and commonly known as Paris 2024, is a forthcoming international multisport event scheduled to take place from July 26^th-August 11^th.

‘International Olympic Committee’ further stated that the Olympic Qualifier Series, a key project under Olympic Agenda 2020+5, brings together the best athletes from each of the four sports involved in the Series in a vibrant festival-like atmosphere in a single urban park. These compact events held over four days offer fans an immersive Olympic experience merging sport, art, music, and culture. The Shanghai stop on the Series will be held at the Huangpu Riverside from May 16^th-19^th, 2024, while the Budapest event will take place at the Ludovika Campus from June 20^th-23^rd, 2024. The Series’ conclusion in Budapest will coincide with the Olympic Day, the annual celebration of the Olympic Movement, held every June 23^rd, which next year also marks the end of the athletes’ qualification period for Paris 2024.

The Olympic Qualifier Series will represent a significant milestone in the athletes’ journeys towards Paris 2024, serving as the ultimate qualification stage for BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding, and sport climbing. At least half of the qualification quota spots for Paris 2024 in these sports are allocated through the Olympic Qualifier Series, with 464 athletes set to compete.

Said Thomas Bach, IOC President, “The Olympic Qualifier Series offers an exhilarating pathway for athletes to qualify for Paris 2024. They will be able to showcase their skills in vibrant major City locations in front of the passionate crowds. Shanghai and Budapest perfectly align with the concept of the Olympic Qualifier Series, serving as the ideal backdrop for an exciting new chapter in the Olympic Movement. The Series promises an unforgettable Olympic experience for both athletes and fans, with the conclusion on Olympic Day adding a special touch of celebration to the Series.”

Added Bach, “This series of Olympic qualification events represents a key milestone in enhancing and promoting the road to the Olympic Games. By bringing together the best athletes from these four sports in iconic urban environments, we aim to give them more visibility and highlight their remarkable achievements on the road to Paris.”

The IOC is working closely with the four partner International Federations to deliver the Olympic Qualifier Series – the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), and the World Skate – which retain responsibility for running their respective competitions.

The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) is the international governing body for competition climbing. After being voted in at the 129^th IOC Session in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sport Climbing made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, and has already been confirmed in the sports program of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXXII Olympiad and also known as Tokyo 2020, was an international multisport event held from July 23^rd-August 8^th, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some preliminary events that began on July 21^st, 2021.

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland. The UCI issues racing licenses to the riders and enforces disciplinary rules, such as in matters of doping.

Lausanne (Switzerland)-based the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) is the international governing body of DanceSport and Wheelchair DanceSport. The WDSF was founded in 1957. It’s recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

Lausanne (Switzerland)-based the World Skate is the only governing body for all sports performed on skating wheels. It’s officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

Bonn (Germany)-based the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the international governing body for sports for athletes with disabilities. The IPC organizes the Paralympic Games and acts as the international federation for nine sports. The IPC also supervises and coordinates other multidisability competitions, including the World and Regional Championships.

Stated Xie Dong, Vice-Mayor of Shanghai, “We are thrilled to host the Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai in 2024. It is a remarkable opportunity for our City, known for its rich sports history and talents, growing industry and strong sports atmosphere, as it strives to build itself into a world-renowned sports City. The event will be held on the banks of our beloved Huangpu River, adding to the beauty of the surrounding scenery as it comes alive with the energy of the most talented athletes. This top-tier event, celebrated for its youthful and urban atmosphere, will undoubtedly ignite the passion of the Chinese youth for BMX, breaking, skateboarding, and sport climbing.”

Added Balázs Fürjes, Co-Chairman of the Budapest Local Organising Committee, “Budapest, a pioneering City, is honored to bring together a new generation of Olympic sports at a vibrant urban festival in 2024. We will be ready – again – to host the world’s best urban sport athletes following on from the highly successful and trendsetting Budapest 2019 World Urban Games. We are also delighted to celebrate Olympic Day together, just over a month before the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. As always, we are committed to offering our best in the Hungarian capital, ensuring we remain gracious hosts and contributing to the development of Olympic sports.”

Commenting on the Olympic Qualifier Series’ distinct nature as a prelude to Paris 2024, the American skateboarder Jake Ilardi said, “I think the Olympic Qualifier Series is going to be a unique experience because, usually, when we qualify, it’s just skateboarding only. I think it will be cool to take a break from the competition, watch the other athletes, see how they prepare, and see what they’re bringing to the table. It will be a good time, and I think it will be a precursor to Paris 2024, giving us a taste of what’s to come.”

Speaking about the Olympic Qualifier Series, the Brazilian sport climber Anja Kohler stated, “I always like when different sports are represented at the same event because then you can go watch different sports, experience great sports moments and meet a lot of new people, and for me it is just one more motivation to push to participate in the Olympic Qualifier Series. It will be a lot of tension because everybody wants to qualify, but at the same time there will be a lot of joy and great sports moments.”

Discussing the anticipated atmosphere at the Series, French BMX freestyler Anthony Jeanjean remarked, “I think that we can expect a very beautiful atmosphere, like always in our sport. There is always a good spirit and a good atmosphere between the athletes. The interaction with the public will be good. Both the athletes and the public will be aware of what is at stake. [There will be] a lot of pressure and implications for every nation, which will need to give their best to hope for a quota place, so it’ll be a great moment and great competitions to prepare for Paris 2024.”

Sharing her excitement for the Olympic Qualifier Series, B-girl Yell from the Republic of Korea said, “The Olympic Qualifier Series are very exciting for me. They are the final shot, the decisive blow, the last shot just before the buzz. It is that moment of suspense between what you have achieved so far and what you dream of achieving… It will be a magical atmosphere!”

The Olympic Qualifier Series contributes to the continuous evolution of the road to the Games. It builds upon the successful inclusion of urban sports at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires (Argentina) 2018, where these dynamic sports were featured in the urban parks. The urban park concept will come to life again in the heart of Paris at Place de la Concorde at the Olympic Games next year. The Olympic Qualifier Series provides a preview of the electrifying experience that awaits spectators in Paris.

The Place de la Concorde is one of the major public squares in Paris, France. Measuring 7.6 ha in area, it is the largest square in the French capital. It is located in the City’s eighth arrondissement, at the Eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.

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