It comes as quite a surprise that the fast-and-furious sport of BMX, short for Bicycle Motocross, will be making only its second Olympics appearance at the London 2012 Games this year. This thrilling sports event will be held at 400-meter circuit BMX Track at the Olympic Park, located next to the Velodrome. The event will start on Wednesday August 8 and end on Friday August 10 with 2 medal events for Men's BMX and Women's BMX. A total of 48 athletes from around the world will test their speed and stamina at this event. The track will host the races over a short, tight, twisting circuit with multiple turns and jumps. There will be a total of 8 riders competing in each race. They will begin the race from a manually operated gate and hurtle down a steep slope. The objective is simple - the first to reach the finish line wins. However, the real challenge lies in the fact that the riders should not fall off as they whizz around the challenging course. BMX Cycling is the most recent sport that was added to the Olympics programme.
BMX Cycling Rules And Regulations
Here is a complete guide on the rules and regulations of BMX cycling event, a recently introduced event in the Olympics.
BMX Cycling
- The standard ramp height at the short outdoor track at London 2012 for the BMX races for the riders to start on is 8m.
- The track usually is a quarter-mile (350-370 meters) long where eight riders compete in each heat of the Olympic BMX races.
- There are total of four rounds to determine who shall stand on the medalist podium when the dust settles.
- BMX bikes with only one gear and one brake are permitted.
- The permissible diameter length of the racing riders wheels are 20 inches, which is approximately two-thirds the size of wheels used on a standard road bike.
- Points are awarded according to winners spots and the top two riders from the first three races in each quarterfinal qualify for the semi-finals.
- All riders must wear the required gear compulsorily — long-sleeve tops and bottoms, gloves, helmets with full masks, knee and elbow pads for extra protection.
BMX Cycling History
Bicycle motocross or BMX originated in California in the late 1960s. The more modern and motorized version of the sport is the inspiration for the human-powered competition at the London 2012 Olympics. It was officially accepted in the Olympics programme 2008 in Beijing. The 2008 men's event was won by Latvia's Maris Strombergs and the women's event, by France's Anne-Caroline Chausson who is also credited with the first Olympic title in this discipline. Since BMX is a new Olympic event, there is not yet a huge "Hall of Champions" to look back to. However, some memorable performances in Beijing started things off at a pulsating all-or-nothing pace.
Bicycle motocross or BMX originated in California in the late 1960s. The more modern and motorized version of the sport is the inspiration for the human-powered competition at the London 2012 Olympics. It was officially accepted in the Olympics programme 2008 in Beijing. The 2008 men's event was won by Latvia's Maris Strombergs and the women's event, by France's Anne-Caroline Chausson who is also credited with the first Olympic title in this discipline. Since BMX is a new Olympic event, there is not yet a huge "Hall of Champions" to look back to. However, some memorable performances in Beijing started things off at a pulsating all-or-nothing pace.