News I Announcement of the WDSF Breaking Calendar 2023
3rd January 2023 (Kuala Lumpur) The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has just announced the 2023 Breaking Calendar with the hopes of encouraging all b-boys, b-girls and WDSF National Member Bodies (NMBs) to start preparing well in advance for the upcoming competitions and championships.
Furthermore, the World DanceSport Federation also added that a Breaking for Gold World Series in Brazil is pending a formal bid from the NMB and that more events and changes would be constantly added in the future to the 2023 WDSF Calendar. As for now, the World DanceSport Federation is currently working on the potential host for the 2023 WDSF Continental Championships in Oceania and Asia.
Besides, the World DanceSport Federation also stated that all NMBs are well encouraged to consider hosting BfG Challenge Series or International Series events in their respective countries which would be highly beneficial for the athletes.
The schedule for 2023 is as follows:
OLYMPIC QUALIFIER SERIES
The IOC-led, four-sport OQS will bring together aspiring Olympians in Breaking, BMX freestyle, skateboarding, and sport climbing in three cities (TBD) between March and June 2024. The competitions will be held together in Urban Parks, offering a new Olympic experience to fans around the world by blending sport with music, art, and culture.
In total, 40 b-girls and 40 b-boys will compete in the OQS for the 20 Olympic berths (10 per gender) that will still be up for grabs.
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR THE OQS
There are many ways for Breakers to qualify for the Olympic Qualifier Series. They can do so by:
Finishing 2nd thru 6th at the 2023 WDSF World Breaking Championship (5 b-girls and 5 b-boys in total)
Finishing 2nd thru 6th at the 2023 WDSF World Breaking Championship (5 b-girls and 5 b-boys in total)
Being one of the next 14 highest-ranked b-boys/b-girls on the WDSF Ranking List (14 b-girls and 14 b-boys in total)
In addition, one (1) b-boy and one (1) b-girl from the Olympic Host Country (France) will earn OQS berths, as will 3 athletes of each gender from the OQS Host Countries (TBD)
Finally, 2 universality quota places per gender will also be awarded by the IOC’s Tripartite Commission. Universality quota places promote sports development, provide equal opportunity to smaller countries, and progress the competitive ambitions of emerging nations.
* Ranking points are earned at Continental Championships, WDSF Breaking for Gold World Series, International Series, and Challenge Series events that are currently under way. Only a Breaker’s top 4 results for the Breaking for Gold Series will count towards their ranking points in both the Breaking for Gold World Ranking and Breaking for Gold Olympic Qualifier Ranking. For the Breaking for Gold World Ranking, the results are valid for 1 year and are used for seeding Breakers into Breaking for Gold Series events. For the Breaking for Gold Olympic Qualifier Ranking, the results are collected in the period from 1 July 2022 – 31 December 2023, allowing for numerous opportunities for b-boys and b-girls to improve their ranking in order to qualify for the Olympic Qualifier Series.
An NOC can qualify a maximum of two (2) athletes per gender to the Olympic Games but only one athlete per gender and country can qualify directly, meaning that the second quota place can only be gained through the Olympic Qualifier Series.
PARTICIPATION IN BfG WORLD SERIES
The WDSF wishes to draw attention to the fact that from 1 January 2023, participation at Breaking For Gold World Series events will be limited to the three top-ranked b-boys and three top-ranked b-girls per NMB.
For NMBs with national ranking systems approved by the WDSF: Their highest-ranking athlete (1) per gender on the WDSF BfG World Ranking List qualifies to participate at BfG World Series events in 2023, in addition to the two (2) next highest-ranking athletes per gender on the national ranking or by NMB nomination.
For NMBs without national ranking systems approved by the WDSF: Their three (3) highest-ranking athletes per gender on the WDSF BfG World Ranking List qualify to participate at BfG World Series events in 2023.
Wild cards: To allow all b-boys and b-girls around the world equal opportunity to participate at BfG World Series events in 2023 regardless of the status of their NMB, the WDSF Vice President for Sport also has the right to grant a wild card per NMB/BfG World Series up to 1 July 2023. Wild cards can be issued to Breakers in countries that 1) have no athlete on the WDSF BfG World Ranking List and 2) whose National Ranking System has not been approved by the WDSF.
NMBs looking for recognition of their national ranking list must meet the following conditions to be approved by the WDSF:
NMB must organize a National Championship in 2022/2023;
NMB must organize at least 1 additional national competition in the ensuing 12 months; and
NMB must make its National Ranking List public.
For all questions or comments, please contact: sportsadmin@wdfs.org
