Yah, I do agree with that point, it’s certainly easy to identify something is objectively “bad” to even the lay person. Even just relative to the other performers, while much more difficult to identify the really “good” stuff.
An example being in skateboarding where doing the exact same trick “switch” adds significant difficulty, which the layperson might not recognize. Especially since such a move is relative to the skaters natural positioning, and therefore differs between contestants.
But still, good judges would know the details of the competitors and see that nuance and judge appropriately.
I actually think breakdancing is a cool activity to add to the Olympics. It’s certainly athletic, full of skill, has defined “moves” and entertaining to the layperson, as it has a “wow! Holy shit! Woah!” Factor to the moves.
I just think the format, judging, and poor worldwide competitive infrastructure really harmed its “first Olympics” and overall reputation.
My gut tells me that no one went down to the New York subway and told the showtime boys and girls they could go to the Olympics, and same around the world. It seemed more of a “who you know” competition than an open call for the best.
Yes, but at the same time cultures like Skateboarding, Breaking, Capeoria all have deep roots in being antithetical to and high antagonistic towards hierarchal capture and standardization. I can tell you if the best capoeira was in the Olympics it would be DAZZLING. But just BEING in the Olympics would dissuade many of the best Capoeiristas from pursuing the Olympic competition either on philosophical / ideological grounds or on the grounds of not wanting to submit to the wider scrutiny of any committee that we assess whether they were the kind of person who could be “eligible” to compete which touches on all kinds of stuff FAR beyond the pure athletic skill. I’d would not be surprised if a similar mindset existed amongst real street breakers as well.
The beauty of skateboarding, breaking, Capoeira - too me - is that they DO NOT CARE about one’s wider relationship with “the law” and they have all had outlaw periods (which they embrace) were the practice and/or the community you’d associate with during the practice was likely to bring one trouble with the law just because.
So here I’m probably making a similar point as you but directing to the judging and organization, as I can only assume that the judge panel for Olympic breaking is a bunch of European sports academics rather than real breakers or folks who might have actual rap sheets and such. I could be wrong, but a quick personal vibe check on the Olympics tells me that I’m probably not 😂.
Yah we’re getting to the same point here, seems like an issue with these games overall to be fair, even the gymnastics had judges literally forget to score points and just do a piss poor job overall. Track and field had all kinds of bullshit that hampered athletes abilities for peak performance.
So concerned with woke optics that fair and elite competition played second fiddle.
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