“TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS LOGO” by Viktor Hertz is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
The Olympics stands out as the epitome of all international sporting events, respected by countless individuals for its emphasis on integrity, fair play, and the celebration of the skill and athleticism of competitors from all over the world. The Olympics includes an event for just about any competitive game you can think of, but prior to 2020, I would have disagreed due to the exclusion of skateboarding.
Despite skateboarding having been a competitive sport with formally hosted competitions and pro teams since the 1960s, it was only recently (in 2020) added to the roster of Olympic events, marking a significant milestone in the history of both skateboarding and the Olympic games. The inclusion of skateboarding reflects a broader acknowledgement within the Olympic community of the evolving landscape of competitive sports worldwide, as well as reflecting the increasing significance and popularity of skateboarding as both a culture and competitive sport. It shows people outside of the close-knit community that skateboarding is worthy of being a part of the largest sports competition in the world.
With its increased importance now being included as an Olympic event, skateboarding has experienced a great shift in its perception and opportunity. Being included in arguably the largest sporting competition of the modern era, skateboarding gets the worldwide exposure it has deserved for a long time. The Olympics enables skateboarding and its talented competitors to be seen and appreciated by individuals outside of the skateboarding community causing it to transition from an underground, semi-frowned upon hobby, to a more mainstream and well respected sport.
This new reputation will be seen by an entire generation of young skateboarders. Skateboarding has the potential to inspire young people to be creative, resilient, and strive for self improvement. In addition to this, the increased exposure and popularity of skateboarding helps provide opportunities for young skaters that ceased to exist before 2020. Skateboarding lessons, skateboarding camps, and new skateparks being built creates a more accessible environment for young skateboarders to pursue their passion at the highest level. This increased accessibility will influence the progression of future young skaters in a major way. The youth in the skateboarding community today are already proving to hold more talent than previous generations with skaters like Rayssa Leal, Momiji Nishiya, Ginwoo Onodera, and Filipe Mota.
Even though the inclusion of skateboarding in the Olympics exposes the sport to a broader audience and further increases its popularity and acceptance in society, there has been some controversy with its introduction to the Olympic Games. There have been concerns among the skateboarding community about commercialization, judging criteria, and the clash between skateboarding’s DIY nature and the institutional nature of the Olympics.
Skateboarding has traditionally been rooted in the values of creative expression, individuality, and grassroots culture. There is a fear among skateboarders that the Olympics might prioritize marketing over authenticity, leading to a version of skateboarding that caters more to mainstream audiences than to core skateboarders. Furthermore, some individuals in the skateboarding community are concerned that the aspect of competition by being part of the Olympic Games could overshadow the core principles of skateboarding culture.
Addressing these challenges will be crucial for ensuring that skateboarding’s inclusion in the Olympics is a positive development for the sport and its community. It will require intensive commitment and collaboration with the skateboarding community to guarantee the activity’s core values do not vanish with its introduction to the Olympic stage while still embracing the opportunities that the number one sports competition in the world has the ability to provide.
My opinion on the matter is that the Olympics will have a net positive impact on skateboarding as a whole. There have already been competitions in place for skateboarding in the United States like SLS and X Games that have proven to be successful and increase the popularity of the sport without infringing on skateboarding’s fundamental values. This leads me to believe that the Olympic Games will only further spread the idea of skateboarding and everything it has to offer so long as the skateboarding community has a hands-on involvement with the organization. I am more than happy to see skateboarding make it to the international stage and cannot wait to see what it brings in terms of skill for future generations.
In conclusion, the addition of skateboarding to the Olympics is a great achievement for the sport and the entire community surrounding it. As skaters, we should be proud that our favorite hobby has made it to the international stage solely because of our love and passion for it. The outreach that the Olympic Games possesses will bring about generations of new and constantly improving skateboarding talent and creativity. I anticipate the future for skateboarding holding a myriad of skatepark project initiatives and community driven efforts aimed at fostering the sport’s growth and accessibility.
