BMX and the Olympic Games

The BMX bike has enjoyed a remarkable rise tohost of off road places to ride, the BMX is very
fame. Thought to have originated in southernversatile with both freestyle and racing versions of
California nearly 40 years ago and now taking itsthe sport competing to high levels pretty much world
place across the world in China's hosting of thewide.
Olympic Games is nothing short of astonishing.In June 2008, 45 spots were awarded to 17 nations
BMX or bicycle motocross to give its full name hasfor the Elite men category and 11 nations in the Elite
become an Olympic sport for the first time in 2008.women category for the Beijing Games. This year its
BMX bikes first burst onto the scene in the earlyonly the racing side of BMX that the Olympics is
seventies and have grown in popularity ever since,hosting but it is probably only a matter of time as
culminating in this year's debut appearance at thethe BMX profile goes from strength to strength
Beijing Olympic Games.before the sport enjoys even more events and
Growing interest in extreme sports generally hasexposure at future Games.
clearly helped this two wheeled (in particular whereWednesday 20th and Thursday 21st August 2008
freestyle is concerned) success story. Video gamewere the dates all BMX fans worldwide were looking
culture has also encouraged interest with a string offorward to as their beloved sport made its bow at
BMX titles in recent years, some of which I havethe Olympics with qualifying, seeding and quarter final
enjoyed playing myself. The positive sales figuresruns all taking place for both men and women on day
from these games, in turn making some ridersone.
household names and celebrities, far beyond whatSo it's welcome to the Olympic Games for all things
could have been imagined when kids first startedBMX. The wheels are showing no signs of slowing
asking Santa Claus for a BMX at Christmas.down, let alone falling off.
Relatively small and easy to manoeuvre and with a