Three disciplines are making their debut today, the second day of competition at The World Games 2022. In Birmingham, Alabama, for the first time on the programme, are Drone Racing, an Air Sports discipline, Breaking which belongs to DanceSport and Parkour, a discipline within the International Gymnastics Federation. The three debutants represent ‘the new generation of sports’ which are being showcased at the 11th edition of TWG.
To underline that: in Drone Racing, which is using the new Protective Stadium as its competition venue this afternoon, the youngest competitor ever is bidding for a medal. Fuga Kamizeki celebrated her 14th birthday five weeks ago.
The Breaker battle starts on Saturday at the Sloss Furnaces venue. What an interesting contrast: an old blast furnace plant is the backdrop for a new sport. Breaking has had an interesting evolution; the discipline was part of the programme of the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires in 2019, and now the "Bois" compete at the World Games. In 2024 they will use the Olympic Games in Paris as a big stage for a sport that will undoubtedly engage spectators.
Disciplines in Gymnastics have been part of the core of The World Games already for decades. Now, the 2022 event opens up the possibility for something brand new: Parkour. The athletes here will also perform in the Sloss Furnaces venue. Speaking of the athletes, they don't want to be called gymnasts. The correct name is ‘traceur’. Young sports do have young athletes; one of them is Miranda Tibbling. The Swede is 18 years old and in the Speed competition she is the one to beat in Birmingham (USA) when the best athletes gather for The World Games 2022.
The competitions can be watched on olympics.com and www.theworldgames.org
A little bit more about the new disciplines:
Parkour
Parkour is a very young Gymnastics discipline which is performed outdoors. Athletes aim to get from one point to another in a complex environment without assistive equipment. To overcome obstacles, athletes must make use of a range of techniques. Moves include running, climbing, swinging, vaulting, jumping, rolling, crawling, and other movements deemed suitable for the situation. In the Speed event, athletes must overcome obstacles as quickly as possible. In the Freestyle event, athletes make use of the obstacles to show off their style and creativity.
Drone Racing
In First Person View Drone Racing, athletes fly small radio-controlled multi-copters with remote controls via video goggles. Drone Racing consists of successive races, with typically model aircraft flying together on a racing circuit, outside or indoor. The aircraft achieve a speed of more than 150 km/h. Recording the action allows both pilots and fans to enjoy the illusion of flying at breakneck speeds, all without taking their feet off the ground. Drone Racing is one of the fastest growing Air Sports in the world.
Breaking
Breaking is an urban dance style which originated during the mid-1970s in the Bronx borough of New York City. Breaking has progressed from its Bronx roots into an internationally recognised cultural art form, with elements of urban dance intertwined with extraordinary athleticism. Breaking is one of the few DanceSport disciplines where competition is in a head-to-head format, as both competitors face off in a 1-minute Breaking battle.
The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years by the International World Games Association, organised with the support of the International Olympic Committee. The 11th edition of The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, 7-17 July 2022. 3,600 athletes from 34 sports and over 100 countries will take part in The World Games.
