BMX IN THE OLYMPICS: BMX Freestyle Park Confirmed for Tokyo 2020 | Ride UK BMX

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BMX IN THE OLYMPICS: BMX Freestyle Park Confirmed for Tokyo 2020

Huge news here, as BMX Freestyle Park has just been confirmed as a sport in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

After BMX Racing made its debut in the 2008 Beijing games, it’s now the turn of freestyle riders to consider themselves true athletes and begin training to become Olympians.

Last year, Skateboarding was announced as an Olympic event, sparking numerous opinions about how we define freestyle action sports. How does BMX fit into all this?

It seems that for Tokyo 2020 the Olympic Committee is trying to make The Olympic Games ‘younger’. By including the likes of BMX, Skateboarding and Surfing, they’re obviously attempting to appeal to a more diverse audience – perhaps the kind of audience that ordinarily would only have a passing interest in the Olympics.

By legitimising freestyle action sports on such a high-profile international level, we’re sure to see some fierce opinions. It goes without saying that BMX, like skating and surfing, has incredibly strong roots, with a tight culture surrounding it. The fact that many people see BMX more as a lifestyle than a sport leads to some inevitable contradictions when it gets treated as an official, measured activity on a global stage.

We’re still contemplating what this all means for our crazy little world of BMX, but we’ve seen some very positive reactions so far. Check some thoughts from Alex Coleborn and Logan Martin below.


Alex Coleborn. Photo: Robin Pearson

Alex Coleborn

“I think it’s really sick, having BMX go that step further to the Olympics is just unreal. We’ve never really had that opportunity before so to be a part of the GB team would just mean a hell of a lot.

“I definitely want to be on that squad.”

To be an olympian… There’s probably not much you’d want more than that, being a sportsman. I definitely want to be on that squad.”


Logan Martin, tailwhip transfer. Photo: Scott Connor

Logan Martin

“I think it’s a good thing for BMX, 100%. The more exposure the better, I think. The Olympics is the pinnacle. Growing up, watching the games, everyone is at the top of their sport. To get BMX in the Olympics is literally amazing.

“To get BMX in the Olympics is literally amazing.”

I think more and more riders are becoming athletes. They’re training more, eating properly, looking after themselves to make a difference to their performance. Over the last year or two I’ve seen it pick up a lot, and the next 4 years going into the olympics it’s gonna pick up even more.”


 

 

PRESS RELEASE:


BMX Freestyle Park to take centre stage in Tokyo

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Cycling Union (UCI)  today officially announced the inclusion of BMX FREESTYLE PARK at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games.
This decision marks a historic step for BMX FREESTYLE, and further emphasis the IOC’s commitment to bringing the Olympic Games to young people.
Hurricane Action Sports Company, right holders and organiser of the FISE World Series, would like to thank all athletes, fans and partners for making the recent UCI BMX FREESTYLE PARK World Cup an unprecedented success during FISE World Series Montpellier (May 28), in front of several delegates from the IOC Observer program.
Olympic inclusion is a huge achievement and step forward for the Actions Sports Communities worldwide, that FISE brings together since 1997. From the creation and launch of the FISE WORLD SERIES in 2014, followed by the partnership with the International Federation only two years later with the inaugural UCI BMX FREESTYLE PARK World Cup in 2016 within FISE, have paved the way to today’s announcement. 
The BMX Freestyle has evolved at an astonishing pace, and we are extremely proud to be part of this sports movement, and to continuously push the Action Sports further.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the IOC and the UCI for the opportunity to spread BMX Freestyle, its spirit, and its lifestyle.
The BMX FREESTYLE PARK will feature the world best athletes on a tailored BMX PARK, in compliance with the UCI rules and regulations competition format.
We’re entering a new era, so stay tuned!

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