East China's Shanghai Municipality and Hungary's capital city Budapest have been selected as the hosts for the Olympic Qualifier Series of BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding and sport climbing for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed on Thursday.

At least half of the Olympic berths for the four sports for Paris 2024 will be allocated through the two-part series while 464 athletes are competing for them. The series in Shanghai will begin on May 16 and end on May 19, 2024. The competitions in Budapest will happen from June 20 and 23, 2024. June 23 also marks the Olympic Day as well as the conclusion of the athletes' qualification period for the Paris Olympics.

"The Olympic Qualifier Series offers an exhilarating pathway for athletes to qualify for Paris 2024," the IOC President Thomas Bach said. "They will be able to showcase their skills in vibrant major city locations in front of passionate crowds. Shanghai and Budapest perfectly align with the concept of the Olympic Qualifier Series, serving as the ideal backdrop for an exciting new chapter in the Olympic Movement. The Series promises an unforgettable Olympic experience for both athletes and fans, with the conclusion on Olympic Day adding a special touch of celebration to the Series."

Breaking, skateboarding and sport climbing are the newly-included sports in the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. China's Liu "671" Qingyi won the breaking women's gold in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province on October 7. Japan's Shigeyuki "Shegekix" Nakarai secured the men's title. The six sport climbing golds in the Asian Games went to China (two), Japan (two), Indonesia (one) and Iran (one). Chinese athletes pockted three of the four skateboarding titles in Hangzhou.

"We are thrilled to host the Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai in 2024," Xie Dong,vice mayor of Shanghai, said. "It is a remarkable opportunity for our city, known for its rich sports history and talents, growing industry and strong sports atmosphere, as it strives to build itself into a world-renowned sports city. The event will be held on the banks of our beloved Huangpu River, adding to the beauty of the surrounding scenery as it comes alive with the energy of the most talented athletes. This top-tier event, celebrated for its youthful and urban atmosphere, will undoubtedly ignite the passion of Chinese youth for BMX, breaking, skateboarding and sport climbing."