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The Olympics are almost here!

The Eiffel Tower lit up at night with the Olympic rings displayed and beams of light radiating from it, celebrating the upcoming Olympic GamesThe Eiffel Tower lit up at night with the Olympic rings displayed and beams of light radiating from it, celebrating the upcoming Olympic Games

Aytac Unal/Anadolu via Getty Images

Kicking off July 26, the Summer Olympics will see athletes and audiences flocking for fierce competitions in the City of Lights.

Eiffel Tower in the background of a Paris 2024 Olympic Games volleyball stadium setup, with players practicing on the sand court. Stadium seats are mostly emptyEiffel Tower in the background of a Paris 2024 Olympic Games volleyball stadium setup, with players practicing on the sand court. Stadium seats are mostly empty

David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images

There are some program changes this year, with three sports departing and one sport making its Olympics debut. So here’s the rundown of notable sporting changes to expect:

Leaving: Baseball

Japanese Olympic baseball team celebrates on the field, hugging and cheeringJapanese Olympic baseball team celebrates on the field, hugging and cheering

Steph Chambers / Getty Images

Baseball first joined in Barcelona 1992, where Cuba won gold. The sport was removed after Beijing 2008. It came back briefly for Tokyo 2020, but it will not be returning this year in Paris.

Members of the Cuban baseball team celebrating on the field, with one player, wearing jersey number 51 (Perez), proudly holding a Cuban flagMembers of the Cuban baseball team celebrating on the field, with one player, wearing jersey number 51 (Perez), proudly holding a Cuban flag

Ronald C. Modra /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Leaving: Softball

Japanese women's softball team celebrates on the field, smiling and hugging after a gameJapanese women's softball team celebrates on the field, smiling and hugging after a game

Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Four years after Baseball debuted, Softball joined at Atlanta 1996, where the US won gold. The sport has followed the same path as Baseball: exiting the Olympics after Beijing before making a brief return four years ago at the Tokyo games.

Softball players from Team USA joyfully celebrate on the field, hugging each other after a gameSoftball players from Team USA joyfully celebrate on the field, hugging each other after a game

John Iacono/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

Leaving: Karate

Sandra Sánchez performs a karate move in a martial arts uniform with a red belt at a competitionSandra Sánchez performs a karate move in a martial arts uniform with a red belt at a competition

Harry How / Getty Images

Karate debuted at the last Olympics. It consisted of two events — Kumite and Kata. The events were split by weight class and gender, resulting in eight gold medals up for grabs. However, Karate was not brought back for the Paris games.

Karate competitors in action at the Tokyo 2020 OlympicsKarate competitors in action at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Joining: Breaking

A breakdancer performs an inverted headspin on stage during an event with the Olympic rings symbol visible in the backgroundA breakdancer performs an inverted headspin on stage during an event with the Olympic rings symbol visible in the background

David Balogh / Getty Images

Breakdancing is joining for the first time and will consist of one event for B-Boys and one for B-Girls. It first made an appearance in the Olympic circuit at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

Breakdancer performing on one hand at an Olympic event, with another person watching in the background. The word "BREAK" is displayed behind themBreakdancer performing on one hand at an Olympic event, with another person watching in the background. The word "BREAK" is displayed behind them

WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images

Additionally, new events have been added for longstanding sports, including Kayak Cross in Canoeing and Kitesurfing in Sailing.

Three Olympic kayakers paddle through rough waters against a backdrop of large Olympic ringsThree Olympic kayakers paddle through rough waters against a backdrop of large Olympic rings

Justin Setterfield / Getty Images

And, finally, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing are back for their second Olympic appearances after debuting in Tokyo.

A skateboarder performs a trick down steps in front of the "Tokyo 2020" Olympic logo at a skateboarding eventA skateboarder performs a trick down steps in front of the "Tokyo 2020" Olympic logo at a skateboarding event

Dan Mullan / Getty Images

Tell us in the comments below which sports you’re most looking forward to watching at the Olympics!

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