Issue 2017/05: Alternative Road To Buenos Aires

WDSF Press Release 2017/05 ::: Issue 28/06/2017

WDSF Opens A Second Path For Breakers To Make Their Way To The 2018 YOG

The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) opens up a second pathway for young b-boys/girls (born between 2000 and 2002) to qualify for the Breaking events at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games (2018 YOG). At the halfway point of the first stage of its “Breaking for Gold” qualifying process, with only four weeks to go until the 31 July 2017 deadline, WDSF and its allies in the international breaking community have decided to allow for age-eligible breakers to submit their videos through their social media as well.

“Breaking for Gold – Stage One,” the digital qualifying for the 2018 YOG in progress since 4 May 2017 (www.breakingforgold.com), will be complemented by “Breaking for Gold – Here I Am!” It’s a much less formal way of submitting videos to the panel of expert judges for an initial assessment.

From 1 July 2017, breakers who just want to test the waters – who are simply curious to know whether they have what it takes to compete for one of the 24 places in the 2018 YOG – can upload a sequence of their best breaking to their own Facebook page or Instagram account (both of which must be public). They can do so without any major restriction other than that their sequence must be recorded in one single take, without editing and with about 45 seconfs running time! There is only one thing that will need to be done aside from the straightforward upload of such sequence to Facebook or Instagram: the video must be marked with the hashtag #IAMBREAKINGFORGOLD to identify it as an “Here I Am!” entry.

Within seven days after submission, our judges will screen the entries marked with the #IAMBREAKINGFORGOLD hashtag and render their verdict on whether or not they reflect the quality required for Stage Two of the IOC-approved Qualification System. B-boys/girls whose entry is deemed good enough will be contacted through the social media where they uploaded the video – either through a comment or a personal message by the “Breaking for Gold” staff. They will be given precise and personalised instructions as to what else they will need to do in order to formalise their entry and to possibly be eligible for funding to cover travel expenses in the next stage(s) of the overall qualification process.

To avoid that a #IAMBREAKINGFORGOLD submission through the social media would need to be reshot in order to formalise it for upload to www.breakingforgold.com, b-boys/girls are encouraged to make use of the music which is provided by the official DJs from the start.

The Social Media Message 

#IAMBREAKINGFORGOLD

Do you think that “Breaking for Gold” goes over the top when it comes to rules and formal requirements? Well, we have opened up an alternative “Road to Buenos Aires” just for you. One that simplifies the first step you will need to take. And also one which talks you through all the additional steps, should we think that you could go the distance. Starting 1 July 2017, you will have the choice! Stick to the original formula and submit your video to www.breakingforgold.com (with all that is implied) or simply say “Here I am!” – through a social media post. This is how it’s done …

It is as easy as shooting a sequence of up to 45 seconds of your breaking abilities and present it to our judges through the social media. No wires, no mirrors, no smoke – just you showing your best stuff in a single take! And you alone! Then you upload your video to either your Facebook page or your Instagram account (both of which cannot be set private) and mark it with the hashtag #IAMBREAKINGFORGOLD … After that you wait for up to ten days. If our judges consider that you have a shot at making it to Stage Two, the Continental Qualifiers held on

  • 6 October 2017 at the Silverback Open in Philadelphia, USA (for breakers from the Americas)
  • 22 October 2017 at the Battle of the Year in Essen, GER (for breakers from Africa and Europe)
  • 2 December 2017 at the Taipei BBOY CITY in Taipei, TPE, (for breakers from Asia and Oceania)

The “Breaking for Gold” staff will contact you through your Facebook page or Instagram account and provide you with step-by-step instructions regarding what you will need to do in order to formalise your entry. 

There will be funding available from different sources (Sponsors, WDSF, National Olympic Committees, Olympic Solidarity) to help some of you to make it to the Continental Qualifiers (Stage Two) and the WDSF Youth World Championship in 2018 (Stage Three).

WDSF is committed to do whatever is needed to bring the best 24 young breakers to the 2018 YOG in Buenos Aires.