Beijing Olympics - What is considered an Olympic Sport?
August 20th, 2008 by Annette Pedersen
There is a lot of talk these days about sports being added and deleted to the Olympic games. The sports which are on the chopping block for the 2012 games in London are softball, baseball and the modern pentathlon. The IOC President Jacques Rogge, has stipulated on a go forward basis if any new sports are to be added to the games, the same number of sports have to be removed. Some of the sports that are being considered as additions for 2012 include golf, rugby, karate, squash and “roller sports.” I don’t even want to begin a discussion on “Roller Sports”, because I have visions of “roller derby” being entered as an Olympic Sport. What I am interested in blogging, is what sports do you think should be removed? I think I live in the greatest country in the world, Canada. Our summer Olympic medal tally is however quite weak. We didn’t have our first medal until Day 8 in Beijing, but this 2nd week of competition has been much better for the Canadian Athletes. My first choice for removal from the Olympics has changed. It initially was Trampoline, but Canada has now received 2 medals for this sport, so it is now my favorite sport. I say keep Trampoline, but let’s turf Ping Pong or Table Tennis. Let’s remember that this is a game that is best played with friends and beer. My next choice would be Rhythmic Gymnastics. I may have to change my mind about this one too, because Canada has done well with this sport in the past, and we may get a coveted medal in this sport. I would have even said Equestrian events last week, but now it is another favorite sport of mine due to the shiny silver medal we got. I just don’t understand why we don’t give the medals to the horses. Don’t they do all the work? We need to find a sport where Canada has little chance of winning. It is pitiful that I have to think along these terms to get a sport removed, but we are truly not a threat in the summer games. My final choice would be to remove Tennis. Some of these players make a “gazillion” dollars a year, and do not fit my idea of an Olympian, plus, what chance has Canada of ever getting a medal in this sport. Let’s bring back to the Olympics the sport of Lacrosse. It was in 4 past Olympics, 1904,1928, 1932 and 1948. I know we would do well in this sport again. Can you believe that even Tug-Of-War was in 6 Olympic games. In the end all I can do is cheer “Go Canada Go”, and wait for the winter games to come to Vancouver. As the home team, I am hopeful for our best medal count to date. Go Canada Go!
Tags: Beijing, Canada, IOC, Jacques Rogge, Olympics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Softball, Table Tennis, Trampoline, Vancouver
August 21st, 2008 at 6:30 am
“I say keep Trampoline, but let’s turf Ping Pong or Table Tennis. Let’s remember that this is a game that is best played with friends and beer.”
Actually, if they are thinking of adding Golf, I consider that a sport best played with friends and beer as well :).
What I can’t quite understand is why they want to remove sports? Since the Olympics are about competition in a sporting event amongst nations, why not have the more the merrier? I am thrilled to see Karate on the list of sports to come and, while I agree that Tennis players make a good living, it is a darn fine sport and I would hate to see it go.
The Equestrian events I would be happy to see go as anything that puts the majority of the effort on an external force (Nascar falls in this realm as well) just doesn’t seem very sporting to me though I have no doubt it is still physically demanding and requires a lot of skill.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I think the reason that sports are being removed, if new sports are being added is to keep the games to the 16 day format. I also think it may be too costly for the host cities to accomodate all sport venues. In regards to Tennis, it will be interesting if the Olympics will use the Wimbledon facilities for tennis? I wonder if there is a ruling on what type of surface the game has to played on?