The World Beach Games, scheduled for this October in San Diego, just took a blow with the announcement that BMX freestyle would not be included.
The news is a setback for the Games, which had been moving forward, despite getting off to a bad start that included downsizing, budget cuts and a postponement from 2017 to 2019.
BMX was to be one of 15 sports featured in the Games. However, the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), the governing body overseeing the event, noted the decision to remove BMX was because of the cost of staging the sport in San Diego.
The World Beach Games’ website states that events will take place on the sand and waters off South Mission Beach with temporary stadiums, sponsor booths, portable toilets and other facilities near Belmont Park and around Bonita Cove.
It was not immediately clear what aspect of BMX venue construction had been problematic, but ANOC’s statement included the fact that the San Diego Organizing Committee had been working “to deliver elite level sport in fully sustainable, low-cost venues.”
Organizers say they want BMX freestyle to be included in future editions of the Games, and that they expect to work with UCI, the sport’s national governing body, to this end.
The news about BMX, which comes less than 10 months before the Games are to be held, is a disappointment to those who were looking forward to the action sport. According to Inside The Games, there are other action sports on the program, though none are related to cycling.
BMX has been a part of the Summer Olympics since 2008, when it was first hosted in Beijing.
Sports still on the program at the World Beach Games will now include sports falling into the following categories:
- Beach Sports: Handball, Soccer, Karate, Tennis, Volleyball, Wrestling
- Water Sports: Kiteboarding, Surfing (Longboard), Surfing (Shortboard), Open Water Swimming, Wakeboarding, Waterskiing
- Action Sports: Aquathlon, 3x3 Basketball, Bouldering, Skateboarding
A festival is also planned. The layout of the event can be found here.
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