Olympic Sports - What ones would you change??

[WCE2000]

Here is the list of Sports Currently in the Olympics:
Archery
Athletics
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Canoeing/Kayaking - Slalom, Sprint
Cycling - Mountain Biking, Road, Track
Diving
Equestrian
Fencing
Football
Gymnastics - Artistic, Rythmic, Trampolining
Handball
Hockey
Judo
Modern Pentathlon
Rowing
Sailing
Shooting
Softball
Swimming
Sychronised Swimming
Table Tennis
Taekwondo
Tennis
Triathlon
Volleyball - Beach, Indoor
Water Polo
Weightlifting
Wrestling

If i ran the IOC, these would be the following sports i would drop:

Weightlifting - Drug Cheats, giving the Olympics a bad name.
Boxing - Also giving the Olympics a bad image, mainly because of the cheating.
Table Tennis - It is a 1 sport competition - China.
Badminton - as for Table Tennis - China won all 4 Badminton golds and won 8 of the 12 medals available.
Sychronised Swimming - Seriously, this should not be in the Olympics.
Soccer - It is played by every country, but the city (or country) need to have at least 4 stadium to run a soccer competition, and some countries just dont have the resources to play out a soccer competition. The main reason however, is that the Olympics is not Soccer's maing competition. Just about any player would rather win the FA Cup then the Olympics.
Basketball - like Soccer, the Olympics is not the sports main competition.
Baseball - as above.
Tennis (maybe) - It is not Tennis' main competition, but it is held in much higher regard than it is in the 3 sports mentioned above.

The following sports i would add to the Olympics:
Horse Racing - These would be a great money raiser. I'm sure the IOC would be able to have a contract with the local betting agency (in Australia's case - TAB) and get royalties out of all bets place on the horse racing. Horse Racing is also a very popular pastime and would get fullstadium to just about every race. And if equestrian is in there, why not horse racing.
Golf - Golf, being the one of the most played sports in the word, should be in the Olympics. It would also raise a lot of money because it is so popular.
Surfing (maybe) - Popular past-time, the only problem is it is not the greatest spectator sport. People would be close to 100 metres from the action.

Those are the sports I would change.
Just wondering what sport's you guys would change.


Another thing i want to say is, in Athletics do you think it would be possible to do a Points Race, similar to what they do in Cycling. And also ran a Kieran, similar to the one in Cycling.
This would be the way the Points Race be run:
1. Say about 18 competitors.
2. They run a total of 8 km's (8000 metres) or 20 laps.
3. Every Fourth lap would be the Sprint Lap, making a total of 5 Sprints for the race.
4. The winner of each sprint gets 5 points, second gets 3 points, third gets 2 points, fourth gets 1 point, like in the cycling. The winner of the final sprint recieves double points.
5. The points are tallied and the winner is the person with most (duh!!!)
6. If a competitor laps everyone else, he automaically becomes the leaders like in the cycling.

Anyway, what do you guys think about that idea. I think it COULD be good. The way it could be good is if the runners bunched together, that way the sprint could come from any of the runners.
It wouldn't be interesting if say Haile Gabrasiellese (? spelling) broke from the group and the winner of the Sprint was decided right then.

As for the Keiran. This is the way that would ran.
1. 12 competitors, or whatever they want.
2. They run behind a pace-car like in cycling.
3. The pace-car stays on the track for 3 laps, going 15 km/h for the first lap, 20km/h for the second and 25km/h for the third.
4. The car then leaves the track and it is a sprint-off for the final 400 metres.
5. The clock would start with 200 metres to go, so the World Record would be between 19 and 20 seconds. The WR would be pretty similar to the current 200m WR (19.73) secs. They do get to run into the sprint into the final 200, whereas in the 200m sprint they dont have a running start. But in the Keiran the would've already run 1400 metres, and would be pretty tired, so they would cancel each other out, and end up being pretty similar times.

What do you guys think about adding those 2 events to the athletics calendar.

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[This message has been edited by WCE2000 (edited 25 September 2000).]

 

[jod23]

Syncronised Swimming should not be an Olympic event and neither should the dressage in the Equestrian. Handball is a stupid game and i fully believe i could play for Australia, its soooo easy to score just run jump and throw as hard as you can....easy. WCE2000 i think your right about the soccer but not the Basketball, soccer rate the World Cup as there main goal but the Basketball doesnt have a huge International competion. They have the NBA which is the pinnicle of the sport but no real international event like soccer have the world cup so i think the Basketball should stay. Plus aint it great especially for Bball fans to see the best players in the world on the same Dream Team, particularly in 92 with Jordan Bird Magic Ewing Robinson Malone Stockton Barkley *drool* Now thats Bball!

 

[WCE2000]

Handball wont get kicked out of the Olympics. Down here is Australia it isn't popular but in Europe, it is nearly as big as Soccer, especially in Eastern Europe.
They're star players are earning millions of dollars.
They can't simply kick out Dressage from the Equestrian. Sure, it is quite boring, but it's a bit of a package deal with the Equestrian.

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[Stealth bomber]

Eliminate ALL JUDGES.

 

[sabre_ac]

All individaul events should remain because originally that is what the olympics was all about.
Weight lifting should remain,but needs to be cleaned up

I agree that golf should be brought in along with surfing

But baseball and basketball have to go.

I think that most of the team sports should go.
Unless the are games every country plays they should go

The olympics is meant for individual events.
A

 

[James2]

All sports were the Olympics is not the pinnincal of competition, should be eliminated.

This means that:
Tennis
Soccer
Basketball

should be eliminated.

I would also get rid of Wrestling, Judo and any martial art.

I agree with sentiments regarding table tennis and badminton.

 

[Visro]

Notice how the events everyone wants to get rid of Australia doesn't get any medals in. You're just as bad as Howard not turning up to events which Australia isn't going to win. Spare a thought to countries which rely on these sports for a medal and stop being so selfish.

 

[sainter]

Well said Visro,

Let's get rid of Table Tennis and Badminton because China are too good??

Give me a break, WCE2000!

A sport like basketball is the national sport of a country like Lithuania and to the majority of the competitors at the games it is the pinnacle of their sporting career.

The only reasons in my mind why basketball, soccer and tennis should be eliminated is because of the time-old amateur vs professionalism ideology that the Olympics are supposed to represent.

However, I think the level of committment shown by all countries involved as been excellent. There have been isolated incidents where players don't want to compete but on the whole, I am a big fan of team sports remaining part of the Olympics.

And for crying out loud, you do not introduce sports because they are a good money raiser.

Golf and Horse Racing at the Olympic games?

Unbelievable!

There are sports which many of us as Australians do not understand, yet to other countries they are just as important as Aussie Rules is to us.

 

[jod23]

Basketball shouldnt go its too much fun to watch the Americans destroy the opposition!

Plus we might get a medal hehehehe

 

[WCE2000]

The reason i think Badmington and Table Tennis should not be in the Olympics is because it is stupid to have a sport that is totally dominated by 1 country.

I am not complaing and whining because China are to good, i just feel it is stupid to have a sport that is totally dominated.

The results in the two sports have been ridicolous:
We'll look at the Badminton Medal Tally:
China - 4 gold/1 silver/3 bronze/8 medals
Rest of the World - 1 gold/4 silver/2 Bronze/7 medals

Table Tennis Medal Tally:
China - 4 gold/3 silver/1 bronze/8 medals
Rest of the World - 0 gold/1 silver/3 bronze/4 medals

It is totally redicilous when a country dominates a sport in that fashion.

PS. Sainter, just because i have bagged St Kilda, i would ask you to please base your judgements on a post-by-post fashion, not just assuming all my posts are crap.

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[Visro]

Maybe the rest of the world just needs to get better at badmington. Its like saying to the americans to ban the aths and swimming cause they're too good. If a country chooses to emphasise a particular sport, let them. Instead of introducing new sports they should clean up old ones of drugs, but not remove them. De Bruin is DODGY!!!!!!!!!

 

[sainter]

WCE2000,

Just because I disagreed with you on one topic, please do not assume that I am going to hold a grudge against you in all further posts.

You asked for peoples opinions and I gave you mine.

I still think it is ridiculous to get rid of sports such as table tennis and badminton because China are so dominant. Good on them! The other countries will just have to strive harder.

When you ask for responses, do you only expect everyone to agree with you?

Believe it or not, not everyone is going to agree with everything you say.

Stop being so sensitive and grow up!


[This message has been edited by sainter (edited 26 September 2000).]

 

[WCE2000]

The United States did the best at the pool, but they weren't as dominate as China in the TT/Bad.

Here is the medal tally from the Pool:
US: 14 gold/8 silver/11 bronze/33 medals
Rest of the World: 19 gold/23 silver/22 bronze/ 64 medals.

From the Atheletics (so far):
US: 4 gold/3 silver/2 bronze/9 medals
Rest of the World: 15 gold/ 16 silver/17 bronze/ 48 medals

US are won the pool and are leading the Track and Field, but are not just totally dominated the sports that it is nearly impossible to win a medal for any other country. Quite amazing to think that from 19 events 14 countries have won gold medals in athletics.

BTW, I have discovered that Australia is the most diverce sporting nation so far in the Olympics, just like at these figures i pulled out:
Australia: won medals in 13 sports( won gold in 8 medals)
Russia: meadls in 12 (gold in 6)
US: medals in 11 (gold in 7)
Italy: Medals in 11 (gold in 7)
France: medals in 10 (gold in 7)
China: medals in 9 (gold in 6)

This is very good, also to add to this, is that out of the pool and athletics, the US have only won 5 gold medals, and 16 medals.
While Australia have won 6 gold medals and 23 medals outside of the pool and track.

Please dont consider this something, just to make Australia look better than what we are, i just thought it would be good to point out that we are (so far) the most diverse sporting country in the games.

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[This message has been edited by WCE2000 (edited 26 September 2000).]

 

[Arrow]

I think rhythmic gymnastics is a waste of time. Seeing little girls running around twirling a ribbon and doing a little dance is not my idea of sport.

Btw, synchronised swimming is a LOT harder than it looks.

 

[Bernie]

It's time to look to World of Sport, to introduce new sports.

1. THE WOOD CHOP

Entrants must either have been born in or know someone from Tasmania


2. TUG OF WAR

Was an Olympic sport but only teams made up from pubs can enter.

3. HANDBALL

The REAL kind - putting the Sherrin thru' the target. Try that one, Ivan !

4. DRAW TO THE JACK

Entrants MUST be of a 'certain age'.

I must say I'm enjoying Roy and HG taking the piss out of everything ! Leaves the overseas visitors a little bemused.

 

[Gonzo]

Any sport that relies on a judges interpratation should be given the flick (eg gymnastics, diving, synch swimming, dressage etc)

On the domination argument maybe basketball can go as well because the US wins all the time!!!

My 2 cents

Gonzo

 

[Shed]

Swimming to music ... who decided that was a sport??

And dancing with a ribbon? or a ball?? You're kidding me aren't you? Rhythmic Gymnastics is utterly ridiculous ... it makes you wonder who thinks that crap up!

Golf should be out for exactly the reasons that people have been giving for Soccer ... who gives a rats about an Olympic medal when you can win the British Open or the US PGA (if that's the wrong terminology, forgive me).

Maybe Tennis would be legit if it were Doubles only. I mean, Wimbledon singles champ is top of the world but doubles champ doesn't have a 'gold medal' status about.

 

[joshhem]

Wrestling needs to be gone.

The game involves so much *** activity, it is a discrace to the world. Very boring too.

 

[BJ]

I like all the sports
I think it is stupid to say that you should kick out this sport or that sport.
Just because you dont like them doesnt mean that other dont. I think you are being very ignorant.
And I agree with the person who said that the sports everyone thinks we should get rid of are the ones that Aussies dont win. So get over it!!!! Go all 28 sports!!
BJ

 

[Max Power]

Funny you should bring this topic up because the IOC is actually looking at axing 2 or 3 sports for Athens 2004.

But being the corrupt IOC the sports that will be axed are the ones that don't make money.

So I'll break this up into two - what should be axed and what will be axed.

Should be axed -

* Soccer (unless all countries send their best teams not kids with 3 older players as now)
* Tennis (third rate players)
* Baseball (same problem as soccer)
* Horse Dressage (wtf is the point of this?)
* Bastardised Gymnastics (the one with the balls and ribbons and trampoline)
* Synchronised Swimming (what - you need a reason?)

My guess to what will be axed -

Nothing as the IOC is gutless but there will be stricter qualifying limits to stop clowns like Eric the swimmer taking up space in the Athlete's village.

 

[WCE2000]

Actually, Max Power (BTW, i am watching that episode of the Simpsons, right as i am writing this post), it is more close to axing 8 sports.


The reason for Eric Modambissi being in the Olympics is because they are promoting swimming in lesser known countries.

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[This message has been edited by WCE2000 (edited 26 September 2000).]

 

[servo]

Sports that should go:

Synchro swimming
Rythmic Gymnastics
Parrallel Horse Parking

Sports that could be re-introduced

Golf (was in the Olympics until 1908)
Tug Of War ( was in the games until 1912)

Sports that should be introduced

Squash
Ten Pin Bowling
Lawn Bowls

Sports that should be altered

Merge the individual medals with the team events in most sports.
Soccer - no age limitation, use a larger oval shaped pitch, use an oval ball, make the goals bigger and introduce points. Double the size of the teams.
Beach Volleyball - reduce the size of the uniforms.
womens gymnastics - introduce a minimum age of about 16.
Swimming - get rid of those coverall swimsuits.

Sports that should never be introduced

Horse Racing - you were joking WCE2000 weren't you?
Surfing - That would eliminate half the possible host bidders. Most don't have beaches and some countries don't even have coastlines.
Bocce - just because

 

[WCE2000]

I wasn't kidding on horse racing.
Horse Racing (or watching horse-racing) is one of the most popular leasuire activities in the world.
And as i pointed out, if equestrian is an Olympic Sport, then why not horse-racing.

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[GoEagles]

According to a report in the paper table tennis is the 2nd most commonly watched olympic sport overall - although I haven't seen Channel 7 televise any games/highlights.
As for Badminton - the only highlights of that I saw was with Roy and HGs commentary!

Personally I like both these sports and dont see any reason why they should be cut - If one nation is doing well in the sport, It's up to the other countries to improve - would of you wanted to drop Archery if Australia didnt win gold?

If I was to drop any sport - It would have to be Soccer and Tennis. Not that I dislike the sports or anything, but they have a world cup and championships for these sports, and the best of the players hardly ever want to compete, and In soccers case some Australians weren't given clearences by their English club.

In the Commonwealth Games 98, they trialed a few new sports (Cricket, Pin Bowling and Lawn Bowls) but they were hardly a success. I would like to see squash introduced, because it's a fast paced and highly skilled game - something that would entertain the crowd for sure.

 

[WCE2000]

I didn't know that about Table Tennis.
Anyway, i still think it is stupid to have a sport in the Olympics that are totally dominated by a country.
There are only 3 reasons for a sport being booted out of the Olympics - because it is not the major competition, giving the Olympics a bad name (drug cheats) or because it is totally dominated by 1 country, which i dont think are bad reasons for booting a sport out.
BTW, i have never even considered getting rid of Archery, regardless if win won gold

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