A new sport has been added to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games. It is Bike Moto Cross (BMX cycling).
One women’s and one men’s BMX race will replace two track cycling events, yet to be determined, to attract younger audiences.
International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge called it a “new, spectacular event”. He said, “we believe that this introduction will definitely enhance the Olympic program”. He added that the two new races won’t increase the number of events or athletes in Beijing, which will remain at 300.
Associated Press reports that Rogge said the International Cycling Union was studying which two events in the current program were the least popular and would be replaced by BMX.
Two sports, triathlon and taekwondo, were added to the 2000 Sydney Olympics, but there is increasing pressure to cut rather than add new sports.
