New sports at the Paris 2024 Olympics

The Paris 2024 Olympics will feature several new + newish sports : breaking, skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, and 3x3 basketball. Let’s explore what you need to know about Olympic skateboarding and 3x3 basketball rules, and where you can try them in Lakeland.

Ah, we can just picture that Olympics podium and those shiny medals now .

Photo by Polk County Parks & Recreation

3x3 Basketball

This sport debuted at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics — although, there have been several iterations of the event at Youth Olympic Games over the years.

The Olympic sport takes inspiration from urban street basketball. Here’s how the Olympians will ball in Paris:

• 3x3 Basketball is played on one-half of a basketball court; there are two teams, each with three players. They attack + defend the same hoop.
• The first team to reach 21 points or the highest score in 10 minutes wins.
• Teams will compete in several men’s + women’s pool rounds, followed by play-in games, semifinals, and medal matches.
• Team USA’s men’s 3x3 basketball roster features Jimmer Fredette, Canyon Barry, Kareem Maddox, and Florida Southern College alum Dylan Travis.
• Team USA’s women’s 3x3 basketball roster features Cameron Brink, Cierra Burdick, Rhyne Howard, and Hailey Van Lith.

3x3 basketball events will be played at La Concorde with games beginning Tuesday, July 30.

Dreaming of being a baller? Perfect your swish at these local basketball courts around Swan City:

Hunt Fountain Park
The basketball courts here got a refresh this spring. Start a pickup game to check out the new hoops + tile court.

Simpson Park Community Center
Perfect your dribbling on one of two indoor, full-size courts — just split the court in half to have two 3x3 games going at once.

Kelly Recreation Complex
Got a future Olympian on your hands? Registration for Lakeland’s next Youth Basketball League season will open soon.

Photo by the City of Lakeland

Skateboarding

Stoked about skateboarding at the Summer Olympics? Us too . This sport is newish to the Games — it also debuted at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and it seems it’s here to stick . The world’s greatest skateboarders — including one from Florida repping Team USA (we see you, Poe Pinson) — will compete in two disciplines across preliminary and final events: park + street skating.

Park goes down on a course featuring bends + bowls, and Olympians gather speed to get that sweet air . What to know:

• Athletes will perform three, 45-second runs.
• Skaters will be judged by the height and speed of their tricks.
• Their best score of their three runs will be counted as their final round score.

Street takes place on a straight course complete with stairs, handrails, and other bells + whistles to mimic the streets where skateboarding first began . What to know:

• Olympians will perform two, 45-second runs and five tricks during each run.
• They’ll be judged on their tricks and how well they control their boards.

Skateboarding events will take place at La Concorde beginning Saturday, July 27.

Ready to ride ? Here’s where you can channel your inner thrasher and try sk8ing in and around Lakeland:

Fletcher Park
Bring your own board to shred 24,000 sqft of bowls and a street course for both intermediate and advanced skaters. The park is open daily, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Mulberry Skate Park
This small park is open from dawn to dusk, offering small half pipes and grinding rails.