The Place de la Concorde is a temporary home for “playground sports” during the Summer Games

PARIS — Playground sports are making their debut at the Paris Olympics, but not in major venues as most people would think.

A city park was created in the middle of Paris at the Place de la Concorde. It was the temporary Olympic home for four disciplines of the Olympic Games: breakdancing, BMX freestyle, skateboarding and 3×3 basketball.

Olympic organizers said the choice of venue was intentional because Paris wanted to bring the sport back to its roots, away from major venues such as arenas and stadiums and instead into the heart of the city.

Yes, it’s very important. I grew up in my hometown of Davis, California, and I built a skate park there,” Nyjah Houston of USA Skateboarding told KSL Sports. “It wasn’t the best skate park.”

“It’s just about starting where you are, with what you have. And for us, it was playing outside and cheering with our siblings and friends,” added Michelle Plouffe of Team Canada’s 3×3 women’s basketball team.

Nyjah Huston of Team USA waves to the crowd during the men’s road final on day three of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Place de la Concorde on July 29, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Playground sports may not be as organized or structured, but they are part of the evolution of sport and competition. And the Olympic Games embrace this change.

“A lot of sports that are very much like playground sports, skate parks, BMX, it’s all really fun,” Plouffe said.

“I know something for me. I grew up on the playground and playing with my friends, and now it feels like I’m doing that but on the biggest stage possible,” added teammate Paige Crozon. “Because it’s so relatable that anyone can come and just play on the playground.”

Paige Crozon #7 and Michelle Plouffe #1 of Team Canada react during a women’s 3×3 basketball group match between France and Canada on day six of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Esplanade Des Invalides on August 1, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

These sports were born in parks where kids would just go to have a little fun. But now kids can go there and start dreaming big.

“If I can inspire one person to pick up a bike or try BMX, that’s a big reason why I do what I do. And most importantly, if they want to experience it on the big stage, they can do that,” said Perris Benegas of Team USA BMX Freestyle.

At the end of the Paris Games, a total of 30 medals will have been awarded to the participants of these urban sports in Paris.