Things that are and are not Olympic events

[madlori]

Inevitably, when it's time for the every-two-years Festival of Sport that is the Olympics, talk turns to things that are and are not Olympic events. I mean, it isn't representing all of sports. There are plenty of sports that don't make the cut, and plenty that do that make us wonder why

Comments

[msasl]

since the olympics are held every four years, having olympic horse racing wouldn't be a very good indicator of anything other than who was at the top of the game that particular year, or who got lucky enough to be at the top of the game in an olympic year. horses come and go through thoroughbred racing so fast that very rarely are there any around for 3 years, let alone four or five. so ... olympic championships wouldn't seem to amount to much that couldn't be accomplished in other major races that are held yearly. particularly races like the kentucky derby and the rest of the triple crown, as well as the breeders cup held at the end of every year.

i guess maybe having olympic racing would encourage racing for longevity, but i highly doubt that.

and although i don't feel like i have fully articulated myself...i just don't feel like thoroughbred racing would work out on the olympic level like other equestrian events, such as eventing, dressage, and jumping all do.

[pheonixburning]

Hi, lurker here. I would say that another reason that horse racing is not an Olympic Sport is because ultimately, horse racing is a test of the HORSE ONLY. The jockeys are merely pilots, and while they are athletic as hell, it is not a test of their skills, but of the horses' speed. Show jumping, dressage, and eventing are a test of both the horse and rider, and their teamwork. I think for the purpose of the Olympics, it is ultimately who is the best RIDER (or team of riders) of each respective discipline. The horses who win the Olympics aren't exactly headlined by the mainstream media, it is the rider who gets mentioned.

I would say that that is also the reason equestrian events such as puissance and cutting aren't olympic sports, because those, ultimately, are tests of the horse primarily. I would say reining (basically western dressage) could be an Olympic sport, but my guess is that reining is primarily an American sport.

[msasl]

i agree that the horses are the ones being tested most in horse racing, but the jockeys really are athletes. and their skills are definitely being tested. they are on a 1000 pound animal going up to 40 miles an hour with up to 15 other horses and riders out on the track. it takes an amazing amount of skill to manuever their horse safely across the track, and ask their horse for energy and run at particular time during the race to get their horse to respond

[tattooedsiren]

This is why cricket isn't an Olympic sport...the gold medal round would always be the UK vs. India.
*cough*Australia*cough*

Interesting point about Golf though. If they can build several new stadiums I dont see why they can't build a new gold course.

[akissinacrisis]

Lol, Australians.

Yeah, I was thinking that the thing the British have with "our" sports (compared to the US's baseball etc) is that we have the advantage of having invaded a bunch of countries and forced them to play them. I am not what you would call a cricket fan, but I do admit to loving the Quidditchy way it goes on for days and days.

American football in Iraq, anyone? ;D

[aome]

Why do people keep saying that synchronized swimming isn't a sport? It's gymnastics while holding your breath, basically - flexibility, strength, stamina, and total, brutal precision requirements. Underwater. Certainly more of a sport than table tennis, IMO.

[schnoogle]

Cricket is actually one of the most widely played sports, it's just not a sport the USA play.

[ladymirth]

The US plays cricket? I didn't know that.

[brensoft]

They do actually - they just aren't very good... (mainly because the participation rate is very small.)

They've never qualified for the World Cup, but they have been in the Champions trophy (which is sort of knock out tournament) once in 2004 where they were knocked out in the first round.