29 February 2024 - In both Shanghai and Budapest, the two host cities of the inaugural Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS), athletes from all four OQS sports have leapt headlong into this Olympic year by showcasing their skills around the host cities and giving locals a taste of what to expect during the two-part series.
The OQS, a new series of festival-style events combining sport with urban culture, will see 464 athletes competing for the final qualification spots for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Some 288 of those looking to book their tickets for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in three of the four OQS sports – breaking, BMX freestyle and sport climbing – have now been confirmed, and are set to compete at the Huangpu Riverside in Shanghai from 16 to 19 May and the Ludovika Campus in Budapest from 20 to 23 June.
In line with the Olympic Games Paris 2024 – the first Olympic Games to have full gender parity on the field of play – the sports in the OQS will feature an equal number of male and female athletes.
In BMX freestyle, the athlete roster is now set, with 48 competitors ready to vie for their spots at Paris 2024. Among these athletes is Charlotte Worthington, Olympic champion in BMX Freestyle Park.
Literally embodying the idea of Leap Day, Worthington showcased a series of impressive tricks and leaps against the stunning backdrop of host city Shanghai. She immersed herself in the local urban sports culture, performing tricks alongside young enthusiasts in BMX freestyle at Huangpu Riverside Skate Park, the designated space for sports initiation during the Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai.
In breaking, 80 athletes – 40 B-Boys and 40 B-Girls – will battle it out to secure quota spots in the sport that is making its debut on the Olympic sports programme.
Some 160 athletes are gearing up to compete in sport climbing across two disciplines at the OQS. The competition will see 64 athletes in the speed category and 96 in boulder and lead.
The list of participating athletes in skateboarding, both park and street, will be finalised in March. The skateboarding events in the OQS will feature 88 athletes in each discipline.
The lists of athletes are subject to change, and all quotas allocated for the OQS are the responsibility of the respective International Federations.
OQS is a significant milestone on the journey to Paris 2024 for many athletes, as it serves as the ultimate qualification stage in BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding and sport climbing.
The Olympic Qualifier Series, a key project under Olympic Agenda 2020+5, brings together the best athletes in BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding and sport climbing in a single urban park. The compact events, held over four days, offer fans an immersive Olympic experience that merges sport, art, music and culture.
The Shanghai stop on the OQS will be held at the Huangpu Riverside from 16 to 19 May 2024, while the Budapest event will take place at the Ludovika Campus from 20 to 23 June 2024. The two-part series, taking place in the period leading up to the Olympic Games, will be an important step in determining which athletes qualify for Paris 2024.
To stay informed about the Olympic Qualifier Series, visit the dedicated page on Olympics.com or sign up to receive Olympic Qualifier Series news.
Olympic Games Paris 2024 runs from 26 July 26 to 11 August, and will be followed by the Paralympic Games Paris 2024 from 28 August to 8 September.
