Olympic footy one day?

[Peter P]

Listened to John O'Neill on ABC Grandstand the other day. He said that Rugby is likely to be accepted in the next Olympic games, and definitely in the next Commonwealth games.

The reason for this is that the code has used 7's to export itself. 7's is the perfect size to organise a big tournament like the Olympics with.

Footy will never get a 22 per side game into the Olympics, but for 10 years there's been an official 9-a-side version (that can be played in harder or softer tackling versions) that's virtually just sat on the shelf.

Footy may be 70 years behind Rugby in international spread, but modern communications means the gap can be caught up fast. 9-a-side fits neatly onto a soccer or rugby pitch. As footy in leagues such as the BARFL, DAFL, CAFA, USAFL etc is played in summer - Soccer and Rugby facilities and even teams could be recruited to the game i 9-a-side off season comps. These could act as feeders to the national 18-a-side comps such as the BARFL. And just as the Ond Day version of cricket has spread the game and preseerved Test cricket, 9-a-side can do the same in footy.

There'll always be the big game as it is played in Oz...and hopefully international Tests one day too. But 9's is the version that can make Olympic medallists of future footy players, just as 7's will bring the world's masses to try Rugby.

 

[QT]

never

 

[Peter P]

Well that's imaginative QT!!

 

[XNICK]

Visionary thinking is what has helped our code grow and compete, your ideas have some merit, if it is a means in which to interest new believers in faraway lands and with it bigger exposure on an international level it would be worth pursuing, but our initial focus i believe is to consolidate Aussie Rules in Australia first, we still have alot of work to do in the Northern States, and as most financial decisions are unfortunately made out of Sydney these days the pressure will be on to win hearts and minds North of the border, but we do have a head start in that it is the best product in the world to promote

 

[Bloodstained Angel]

John O'Neill is a typically arrogant Rugby Union man who thinks the bum-sniffer game is somehow bigger and better than Australian Rules.

I don't know where he got the stupid idea that Rugby Union will become an Olympic Sport.

Obviously he forgot to check the facts before opening his big boofy mouth. If he had paid attention to what Jacques Rogge and others on the IOC were saying then he would realise that he is just whistling in the dark.

Jacques Rogge has said repeatedly over the last few months :

- The Olympics are already too large and include too many obscure sports.

- They (the IOC) are actually looking to REDUCE the number of sports in the games, not increase them.

- Billiards, Snooker, Pool, Polo, Men's Synchronised Swimming and Ballroom Dancing have all been REFUSED as Olympic Sports (what makes O'Neill think that Rugby will be successful where others have failed ?)

- The IOC is now giving serious thought top dumping Soccer and Tennis from the Olympic program.

- Rugby (7 a side) was a sport at the last Commonwealth Games (Kuala Lumpur 1998) so why is O'neill talking like he has just scored some kind of 'coup' or something.

Rugby has as much chance as becoming an Olympic Sport as AFL has - zero.

Remember people - John O'Neill is the idiot that called AFL 'a nice little suburban competition'.

Make no mistake, this patronising w***er is a sworn enemy of our game. Don't believe anything he says - its just Rugby propaganda.

cheers

 

[Aussie_Roo]

Rugby Union was once an Olympic Sport - for one Olympics only - I think it was 1932 for memory, where the USA (who else!!) are the reigning Olympic champions... I wouldn't want it to make a comeback, there are already too many sports there...

 

[Bloodstained Angel]

1924 is the one you are thinking of AussieRoo

USA beat France in the final.

New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Fiji didn't even field teams !

 

[Peter P]

Well that's interesting about the IOC and O'Neill. He was sounding very confident on Grandstand.

Nonetheless I disagree with this "we've got to consolidate Aussie Rules in Oz first" line. Globalisation is the name of all the games on this planet these days. Of course footy needs to consolidate itself as the national winter game, but that can be helped not hindered by strategic planning and support of the embryonic footy comps. around the world.

And to really accelerate the growth of footy internationally - the game needs to have a recognised mini version such as 9-a-side which allows easier team and league formation and permit the game to be played on Soccer, Rugby and Gridiron pitches.

It's strange and rather backward of footy that other codes have smaller versions ( Rugby 7's, League "touch", One day cricket, 5-a-side soccer) but the biggest game of all does not.

Here in Australia 9-a-side would also help the game immensely at junior primary level where organising teams can be a nightmare and often kids, schools and parents opt for easier smaller team sports.

 

[XNICK]

Peter in Melbourne Indoor Football for juniors is played at indoor cricket centres, dont know much about the rules but it is very popular

 

[Peter P]

That's great to hear. But at this time of year..its bloody 42 today...beach footy would be a good idea.

I note they're thinking of putting indoor soccer and beach soccer into the Olympics. FIFA reckon its a goer..so much for less sports in the Olympics.

Beach footy needs a bare foot friendly waterproof Sherrin. It would include a fabulous "Marks Up" where you boot it from the shore to the pack in the water, plus just kick it around with cricket stump goals. Why not?? But I'd leave 9-a-side footy for the Olympic stadium and soccer can have their beach version in the games if they wish.

 

[Slax]

Rugby Union was also played in Stockholm in 1912 as well as 1924 in Paris. As I am led to believe it was one of the original team sports introduced in Paris 1900, when team sports were first allowed.