Festival of cool hits Shanghai streets

Sports and fashion collide as city stages Olympic qualifying event for breaking, BMX, skateboarding and climbing

Shanghai will experience the adrenalin of rush of urban sports when the city hosts the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) at the Huangpu Riverside venue from May 16-19.

Featuring BMX freestyle, skateboarding, breaking and sport climbing, the OQS offers athletes the chance to book a spot at this summer's Paris Olympics, with Hungarian capital Budapest hosting the second stop, from June 20-23.

"We are excited to be back in Shanghai. Every time we come here, we can feel the energy of the city and the level of preparation. The OQS is the ultimate stage on the road to Paris 2024. It is more than a sports event, it is a showcase of the DNA of these four urban sports which are very popular among the younger generation," said Pierre Fratter-Bardy, Olympic Games strategy & development associate director of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).