I

t’s time to “run with it” for the last time, and I’d like to begin this column the only way possible:

Thank you!

I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity I’ve had this year, and it’s a great honor to soon be able to pass the baton (little track joke for you there) to next year’s Sports editor. With that being said, let’s end this column on a positive note.

Recently, Olympic events have branched out. In 2020, the world got to experience skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, karate, BMX freestyle and 3×3 basketball. And this summer, breaking (the original term for breakdancing) will make its debut in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In my opinion, the addition of underrepresented sports to the Olympics is essential as the world progresses.

So why is this addition in particular so important?

A huge part of the answer is the sport’s representation of African-American and Latino communities, who originated the dance.

“When I started breaking, it wasn’t about competition; it was about culture, it was about Black dance,” Team USA member Carmarry Hall said in an interview with AP News.

Obviously, breaking isn’t exclusive to people who are a part of these groups. However, in a worldwide competition focused on representation and inclusion of everyone, Olympic events should come from as many different backgrounds as possible.

Besides representation, the addition of breaking in the Olympics also provides more athletes, who may only have competitions at a national level, to compete internationally.

Finally, appreciation for an under- appreciated sport is another benefit to this addition. Breaking, although it is popular, isn’t often a subject of the public eye, at least in the U.S. With its inclusion in the Olympics, though, skilled and talented athletes will be able to show their skills and gain the attention and respect they deserve.

With all its benefits, the sport of breaking will be an amazing addition to the Olympics. I’m excited to watch it, and you should be too!