Here are some basics behind the idea:

-		Hip Hop is a participating artform
-		the attending crowd should be integrated in an interactive & participating way into the BOTY events (eg. through b-boy circles, discussions, added club events, etc)
-		for the future the participating b-boy crews and the attending crowd should be focussed more on the interactive component of the event than the competitive part
-		B-Boying is considered to be a dance and not an "extreme sport"
-		the BOTY wants to take more responsibility for the skills & future of the b-boys/girls, showing them more/new opportunities, eg. proffessional performances in the fields of theater and contemporary dance

After having decided that the "Battle of the Year" will continue it also has been decided that something has to be changed in general as it already was predicted in the year 2000.

The new "Battle of the Year" format getīs a subline which will appear as a baseline to the existing logo. The subline is: "A Change Of Direction"

The public clearly shall understand that the BOTY from now on will be taken into domains that is has not dealt with before. The importance of evolution beyond the confines of the competition will be underlined, reaching out of hip hop community towards the cultural and professional world of dance in general.

The BOTY wishes to give all participants and winners a real chance for a future in dance, which has been impossible until today, due to the fact that the BOTY is not recognised officially by dance companies and institutions outside of hip hop community. They will not make the effort to come to us, so we have to "de-ghettoise" ourselves and reach out to make them understand how far our culture has come, and its importance to the youth worldwide as a real means of expressions, communication, and of fun and entertainment.

Last year the BOTY included a major conference on many aspects of dancing within and without our hip hop culture, which means of course having to make parallels with the other disciplines of hip hop.

In the year 2002 local debates shall be held at all national and international BOTY events in their mother tongue. The international topics and interests then also shall be integrated into the international BOTY 2002.

Last years topics:

-	Battle of the Year 2001: a change of direction (explaining the subtitle)
-	Battle of the Year - what next ? How to become a professional dancer / B-Boying is more than Battle of the Year
-	Judging difficulties, terminology, categorising
-	History and evolution of dance / new styles
-	Contemporary dance and B-Boying
-	Theatre productions, innovation in decoration, sound & lightning
-	Dancing in clubs and parties, how to re-integrate b-boying into its original environment
-	Music videos
-	The acceptance of "outsiders" within our culture from the wider public or from social, educational and cultural institutions
-	"Talk Therapy", or how to apply what we learn through debate and not talk for nothing
-	Bringing the culture closer to its hip hop roots, and away from sports