BMX Meets The Olympics

The BMX bike has enjoyed a remarkable rise toversatile with both freestyle and racing versions
fame. Thought to have originated in southernof the sport competing to high levels pretty much
California nearly 40 years ago and now taking itsworld wide.
place across the world in China's hosting of theIn June 2008, 45 spots were awarded to 17
Olympic Games is nothing short of astonishing.nations for the Elite men category and 11 nations
BMX or bicycle motocross to give its full namein the Elite women category for the Beijing
has become an Olympic sport for the first time inGames. This year its only the racing side of BMX
2008. BMX bikes first burst onto the scene in thethat the Olympics is hosting but it is probably only
early seventies and have grown in popularity evera matter of time as the BMX profile goes from
since, culminating in this year's debut appearancestrength to strength before the sport enjoys
at the Beijing Olympic Games.even more events and exposure at future
Growing interest in extreme sports generally hasGames.
clearly helped this two wheeled (in particularWednesday 20th and Thursday 21st August 2008
where freestyle is concerned) success story.are the dates all BMX fans worldwide will be
Video game culture has also encouraged interestlooking forward to as their beloved sport makes
with a string of BMX titles in recent years, someits bow at the Olympics with qualifying, seeding
of which I have enjoyed playing myself. Theand quarter final runs all taking place for both men
positive sales figures from these games, in turnand women on day one.
making some riders household names andSo it's welcome to the Olympic Games for all
celebrities, far beyond what could have beenthings BMX. The wheels are showing no signs of
imagined when kids first started asking Santaslowing down, let alone falling off.
Claus for a at Christmas.An amazing rise in popularity for the humble BMX
Relatively small and easy to manoeuvre and withbike as it takes its place on the Olympic rostrum.
a host of off road places to ride, the BMX is very