There are many unique sports on the program at the Summer Olympics each year. In Paris there were also several fringe disciplines that gave the games their own flavor and color.
SKATEBOARDING
Skateboarding made its debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. There are two different skateboarding disciplines at the Olympics: Park and Street. Since both disciplines are open to both men’s and women’s categories, there are a total of four skateboarding competitions at the Games.

Park skateboarding takes place on a varied course with depressions and turns to allow athletes to gain speed and perform tricks in the air. In the park events, athletes compete in three 45-second heats and are judged on their ability to use the surfaces to gain height and perform a wide range of tricks in preliminary rounds and finals. Street competition takes place on a “street-like” course with stairs, handrails, and other obstacles to replicate the urban environments where skateboarding originated. In street competitions, athletes compete in two 45-second heats and perform only five tricks per heat in a competition with preliminary rounds and finals.
SURFING
Surfing made it onto the Olympic program at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and returned in Paris in 2024. The scenic surf spot Teahupo’o in Tahiti hosted the surfing competition. Surfers perform maneuvers and tricks on a wave, which are evaluated by five judges based on the variety, type and difficulty of the tricks.

Surfers are also judged on their speed, power and flow (the way a surfer seamlessly connects their movements). Shortboards are the surfboards of choice for the Olympics. Shortboards are smaller than longboards, faster and more maneuverable.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Mountain biking made its Olympic debut at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics with individual races for men and women. French and Swiss athletes regularly finished on the Olympic podium, winning a combined 16 of the 42 medals awarded in the discipline. The sport at the Olympics includes two cross-country mountain biking events: one for women and one for men.

Riders start from the same starting line and complete several laps of a circuit through mountainous, rough terrain that tests their technique, endurance and stamina. Races consist of a mass start and usually several laps. Riders take one to two hours to complete an intense course full of twists and turns, covering dozens of kilometers.
SPORT CLIMBING
Climbing also made its debut at the Tokyo Olympics. The inclusion of climbing, along with skateboarding and surfing, was part of a move to expand the program to include other urban sports. Climbing is divided into three disciplines: bouldering, speed and lead. Bouldering: Athletes scale a 4.5-meter-high wall without ropes in a limited time and with as few attempts as possible. Lead: Climbers climb as high as possible on a 15-meter-high wall in a single attempt in six minutes. Speed: In a race against time, climbers scale a 15-meter-high wall with a five-degree gradient.
3X3 BASKETBALL
Considered the number one urban sport in the world, 3×3 basketball has its roots in street basketball—a creative take on the indoor game with less formal structure. From outdoor courts to the Olympics, 3×3 basketball has been structured over the years by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the governing body for basketball’s development. 3×3 basketball is played on one half of a basketball court, where two teams of three players compete against each other. Both teams attack and defend the same basket, depending on who has possession of the ball. The winner is the team with the highest score after 10 minutes or the first team to reach 21 points. The three-point line in conventional basketball serves as a two-point line in 3×3 basketball, with shots outside the line scoring two points and shots inside the line scoring one point. The first Olympic titles in 3×3 were won at the 2020 Olympics.
BREAK
Breaking is an urban dance style that originated in the USA in the 1970s. Breaking has its roots in hip hop culture and first emerged at the lively block parties in the Bronx district of New York. Breaking is characterized by acrobatic movements, stylized footwork and the key role of the DJ and MC (Master of Ceremonies) in the battles.

In the 1990s, international competitions were held for the first time, which made the dance form popular both in the hip-hop community and among the general public. The breaking competition at Olympic Games in Paris consists of two events – one for men and one for women – in which 16 boys and 16 girls competed in individual competitions. The athletes used a combination of power moves – including windmills, 6-steps and freezes.