B-boy BenMX (Benji Cogdell-Baird) represents Australia at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu.
Haruka Ambai (IG: haru_graphics)
While the mainstream gaze has shifted away from the Olympics, the World DanceSport Federation and Australian breakers are looking towards potential inclusion in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
Paris 2024 was breaking’s first Olympic appearance, but it will not be part of the Los Angeles 2028 program. That makes Brisbane 2032 the nearest opportunity for breaking. The Brisbane Games are still seven years away, but the campaign for breaking’s inclusion is already underway, and it may just lead to redemption for Australia and breaking as a whole.
Recap of breaking’s path to Paris 2024
Looking back at how breaking worked its way up to the Olympic debut in Paris, it was also a process years in the making.
The first prerequisite for Olympic inclusion is that the sport must be governed by an International Federation (IF) that is recognized by the IOC. The federation is responsible for overseeing the sport globally, ensuring fair play, and adhering to the Olympic Charter. The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) was officially recognized by the IOC in 1997 and now serves as breaking’s IF.
Then, the IOC has a stringent set of criteria that a sport must meet. These are outlined in detail in the Olympic Charter and include global popularity, youth appeal, integrity, and logistical feasibility.
Breaking’s inclusion was strongly helped by its youth appeal, and it proved that popularity with a successful run at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.
Following the Youth Olympics, the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee (OCOG) proposed breaking as an additional sport in 2019 along with skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing.
The IOC Executive Board reviewed the OCOG’s proposal and made a recommendation to the IOC Session, which gave the final confirmation for this proposal in 2020. Four years later, breaking made its appearance in Paris.
Current campaign for Brisbane 2032
The good news for breaking advocates and fans is that it already fulfills many Olympic Charter criteria like governance, popularity, and youth appeal. In June 2025, the WDSF also assisted DanceSport Australia Limited in submitting a formal expression of interest for the inclusion of breaking in Brisbane 32.
At this stage, it will be critical for the WDSF and other pro-breaking parties to gain the support of the Brisbane 2032 Organizing Committee. The host city has a significant say in proposing additional sports that they believe will add value to their specific Games.
Then to no surprise, the WDSF has been busy “ensuring Breaking continues its Olympic journey.” According to their response to my inquiry, they recently conducted a formal visit to the National Olympic Committee of Australia, as well as to the Brisbane 32 Organizing Committee. The WDSF is also exploring the possibility of supporting the organization of a breaking event in Australia with training opportunities, and looking into forming a partnership with PCYC, a charity supporting youth in challenging living conditions through recreation and community engagement.
Regardless of how much WDSF does to raise awareness and build rapport, breaking still needs to make its way through the Brisbane 2032 Organizing Committee, the IOC Executive Board, and finally the IOC Session, the same way breaking was selected for Paris 2024.
Perspective from an Australian breaker
With all the formal processes going on, it’s important not to forget where breaking came from and where it truly lives: the community.
I spoke with 17-year-old b-boy Benji Cogdell-Baird aka BenMX, who says “Paris 24 was just a glimpse of what breaking really is…And I think if we get it in Brisbane 32, we can really show and bring justice to what breaking truly is on the world stage…I feel as if it would be a really good experience to actually have it in Australia as well.”
Benji has a unique perspective considering his age, his place in the Australian scene, and his already outstanding track record of silver at the 2023 Oceania Breaking Championship, representing his country at the 2024 Olympic Qualifier Series, and participating in The World Games 2025. He affirms these experiences have opened his eyes up to the potential of breaking as a competitive sport, how it can both inspire breakers to develop athletically and audiences to get involved.
While he appreciates that the Australian breaking scene is already close-knit and welcoming, Benji recognizes Brisbane 2032 as “crucial for the future of breaking in Australia.” Historically, the country has had less than stellar results at the international level, perhaps in part due to the lack of government support–Benji’s OQS and World games trips were both funded by himself and his family.
At the end of the day, getting a chance to share breaking and its power to unite people of all backgrounds is more important than another chance at Olympic gold. As b-boy BenMX puts it, “Just give it a shot… [breaking] brings people together…It doesn’t matter what you look like, how good you are, where you come from, it doesn’t matter.”