What happened to REAL Olympic sports?

[ol' blue]

My personal feeling is that any activity that requires a judge to determine the winner isn't a true sport. If it isn't fastest, strongest, most accurate or some combination of those, I personally don't put it in the same category. I'm not saying it isn't athletic, but I see it more as a performing art. Especially if costumes and "interpretation" are involved. Sorry to the ice dancing and figure skating fans out there, as well as the half pipe and acrobatic skiing and snowboarding fans.

Curling is OK with me. Scoring and no real doubts about who the winner is.

[JeffHamm]

Curling is a lot of fun to play, and there's a lot of strategy and skill involved. I've been told baseball and American football are similar that way but personally I never got into either of them and so I can't see the strategy (though the skill is obvious since I've played a bit). A normal bonspiel (curling tournament, probably spelled wrong) often involves multiple single malts, which does add to the excitment on the ice!

My personal view, though, is that the Olympics should really be single participant sports. All the team sports (and sigh, yes I would have to say hockey despite my love for the game) really don't meet my understanding of an Olympian. I also agree that anything that requires a judge should be removed; and so should speed walking just out of principle. In the end, though, everyone who has made it to the Olympics deserves our admiration and respect. They have achieved the top of their country's trust and respect, and my hat is off to them all.

- Jeff

[flyfishfairwx]

I would like to see as the next winter and summer sport added to the Olymipics - Full Contact Aussie rules Fly Fishing.

[AnW]

I have no problem with curling being in, but as a parent and coach of a fastpitch softball player, I'm dissapointed that it has been dropped from the summer games. Such a fast moving, action packed sport and truly remarkable athletes. Sorry for the slight thread hi-jack.

[MAC in NEOhio]

I have to agree with Ol Blue. I hate when judges can "interpret" winners. I don't get the need for judges in ski jumping. You ski down the hill, propel yourself as far as possible, I don't care what your style is, longest jump that stays upright wins...period. One exception that I would have to allow would be Olympic or Gold Glove boxing.

[CaseyP]

what's interesting is how long that sport has been around in the good ol' USA. my grandfather did curling all his life, and his club is still going strong, more than a century after it was founded. it's like bowling--been around for ages, more folks than you might think participate, folks laugh at it all the time, especially when it's televised, but it keeps on keeping on.
and to be frank, very few of us can actually picture ourselves participating in most of those winter sports, but curling looks like real people competing like mad and having fun while not jumping high or going fast. what's not to like?

[Gnu Bee Flyer]

In the jump competitions , I think that the longest jump wins even if they fall down, like the broad jump in the summer games. You jump the farthest you get the gold.

I have never understood why Soccer, the most played team sport in the world, has never been in the Olympics.

If I were the dictator of the Olympics I'd make American football an official sport, except I'd decree No padding except for mouth guards. I'd make the ball a little larger and eliminate the rectangle playing field for an oval. You could tackle only below the shoulders, the game would not stop for penalties, or anything else for that matter. If a player gets hurt the coaching staff would run out in the middle of the game and attend to him. The game goes on. If the ball went outof bounds the ref would turn his back on the field and throw the ball over his shoulder and back in play. You could pass in any direction, kick when ever you wanted. From the starting whistle till half time the game would not stop. Same thing for the second half. Once I had made these few changes, I'd call this game Australian rules football.

As for Curling, To play 10 ends of curling Is exhausting and very very difficult. The strategies involved are mind boggling. Anyone who says it isn't a sport either hasn't played it or they gave it a try and failed. When I was a kid we used to fill 64oz jam cans with sand and water, let them freeze overnight put a wire handle on them and use them as curling stones. You knew your can needed a touch up with a file when it would suddenly grind to a halt because a dent caused a break in the rim and a sharp piece of metal would become an effective break.

I do agree that if you do not know the game, any team game for that matter then watching it on tv is like sitting in the corner of a freshly painted room watching the paint dry or going down to the dump to watch the cans rust.

I know you have to have rules but when an athlete who has given a huge part of his life to the sport and is standing there with his sled at the start line at the appointed time for the race and an official notices that he has not yet taken the guards off of the sled runners disquaifies him from the race for not being prepared to race at the appointed time something is dreadfully wrong with the so called Olympic ideals.

Its probably a damn good thing they don't make me dictator of the games, because I'd have hung that judge by his toes from the rafters for ignoring the Olympic Ideals of fair play.

[Lucky489]

I have no problem with curling being in, but as a parent and coach of a fastpitch softball player, I'm dissapointed that it has been dropped from the summer games. Such a fast moving, action packed sport and truly remarkable athletes. Sorry for the slight thread hi-jack.

Softball wasn't removed, because it was a bad sport. It was removed because there wasn't enough competition. It was dominated by a couple of teams. Just like the Woomens Hockey, which probably won't be in the next winter olympics.

[Valhalla 1]

Using your criteria billiards should be an Olympic sport...
I did hear that a group is petitioning the Olympic committee to include pole dancing in the future. It does require mental and physical coordination. Or so I'm told..

Point taken...that's why I don't get to make the distinction. I would amend my statement to clarify that while not the only criteria, these are essential. Billiards...better than ice dancing in my opinion. Either it went in the pocket or it didn't. Now pole dancing...one more purely subjective "sport" where the score is not a measurable value, but subject to the whims of the judges. If pole dancing actually makes it, the Olympics will be greatly diminished. Of course, finding enough amateurs who have never danced professionally could kill the whole idea anyway.

[ol' blue]

Of course, finding enough amateurs who have never danced professionally could kill the whole idea anyway.

Good one! Thanks for starting my morning off with a chuckle.