BMX (Bicycle Moto Cross) is one of the four disciplines of the Olympic sport of Cycling.
2012 Summer Olympic Cycling – BMX Events Key facts
Venue: VeloPark
Dates: Saturday 28 July – Sunday 12 August
BMX: A short history
Bicycle motocross (BMX) started in the late 1960s in California, around the time that motocross became a popular sport in the USA. The motorised version of the sport was the inspiration for the human-powered competition.
A sanctioning body for BMX in the USA was created in the early 1970s. Over the following decade, the sport gradually gained in international popularity.
In April 1981, the International BMX Federation was founded. It became evident that the sport had more in common with cycling than motorcycling. This was officially recognised in 1993 when BMX was fully integrated into the International Cycling Union (UCI).
BMX at the Olympic Games
BMX is the newest Olympic Cycling discipline, making its debut at the Beijing 2008 Games.
How the competition runs
BMX races are held on short outdoor tracks that include jumps, bumps and tight banked corners.
Eight riders compete in each heat, with the top four qualifying for the next round. Races take about 40 seconds.
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