Future Olympic Sports - What Should Be In And What Out ?

[Neil]

Touch football is a terrible idea.

In any millieu, not just the Olympics.

[Ed Anger]

Flag football is its retarded cousin. HEY! Another pass. What a shocka.

[FunkMonk]

I know this is a really stupid idea but I'm going to say it anyway. I'd like to see football (american) at an Olympiad, at least just once. It'd be interesting to see what other countries would muster up to play the United States. Players less than half the size of the Americans, making crazy plays that would embarrass an FCS team. Hell, bring in some international cheerleading squads too.

Terrible idea.

I also think paintball and laser tag should be Olympic events.

You know, for the kids.

[Viking]

Mixed martial arts.

Seconded, bring back the Pankration


but seriously.. I'm in favor of removing the team sports entirely and removing any event where the olympics is not the ultimate achievement in the sport (tennis, golf, boxing etc.).

[mongers]

I know this is a really stupid idea but I'm going to say it anyway. I'd like to see football (american) at an Olympiad, at least just once. It'd be interesting to see what other countries would muster up to play the United States. Players less than half the size of the Americans, making crazy plays that would embarrass an FCS team. Hell, bring in some international cheerleading squads too.

Terrible idea.

I also think paintball and laser tag should be Olympic events.

You know, for the kids.

Yeah, why not; I think the Olympics should be in part about getting people involved, exercising and competing.

[Ed Anger]

I know this is a really stupid idea but I'm going to say it anyway. I'd like to see football (american) at an Olympiad, at least just once. It'd be interesting to see what other countries would muster up to play the United States. Players less than half the size of the Americans, making crazy plays that would embarrass an FCS team. Hell, bring in some international cheerleading squads too.

Terrible idea.

I also think paintball and laser tag should be Olympic events.

You know, for the kids.

And Nerf.

[Tonitrus]

I know this is a really stupid idea but I'm going to say it anyway. I'd like to see football (american) at an Olympiad, at least just once. It'd be interesting to see what other countries would muster up to play the United States. Players less than half the size of the Americans, making crazy plays that would embarrass an FCS team. Hell, bring in some international cheerleading squads too.

There's another one: Olympic cheerleading.

Watching women's indoor volleyball the other day, I saw in the background some kind of generic IOC cheerleaders.  It seemed rather odd.

Also, add:

- Sumo
- Dodgeball
- Jousting
- Polo


At least one of those is serious.

[Admiral Yi]

but seriously.. I'm in favor of removing the team sports entirely and removing any event where the olympics is not the ultimate achievement in the sport (tennis, golf, boxing etc.).

Agree with the second but not the first.  What would be the point?

[FunkMonk]

To be honest I find the Olympics quite boring and wouldn't mind seeing things like paintball and nerf ( ) as events.

If shit like motherfucking DRESSSSSAAAAGGGE can be in the Olympics, certainly something like skeeball should get a chance.

[Tonitrus]

I am assuming Dressage is in because some corrupt IOC fatcat's daughter likes horsies.

[Ed Anger]

I would be an excellent Nerf machine gunner. 

[alfred russel]

On the subject of large international sports with established worldwide competitions conflicting with the Olympics, whether it be money, player availability, prestige of events like the world cup, here is my suggestion.

Lets have those games involved, but played like the popular, easy games as played my many of the amateur players.

So the soccer event would be five-a-side, American football would be touch football, cricket would be something live a 20-20 match etc. 
Is there a simplified version of baseball widely played ?

I think this would have a virtue of showcasing the fun, the fast and furious nature of the individual sports, whilst demonstrating to people,they themselves with a few friends or in small communities could set teams and play the games themselves without the need for too much specialist equipment or large dedicated playing areas.

I think those "fun" aspects would be out the door in an Olympic venue, once dedicated teams have spent months training for the event and coaches have analyzed how to game the rules. Whatever you are going to give out an Olympic medal for is going to turn into a serious business.

[FunkMonk]

I would be an excellent Nerf machine gunner. 

There's a counter for that. 

[Eddie Teach]

I am assuming Dressage is in because some corrupt IOC fatcat's daughter likes horsies.

Y'know, the Queen's grand-daughter just won a silver in one of the equestrian events.

[Viking]

but seriously.. I'm in favor of removing the team sports entirely and removing any event where the olympics is not the ultimate achievement in the sport (tennis, golf, boxing etc.).

Agree with the second but not the first.  What would be the point?

Because when the Olympics is not the pinnacle of sporting achievement in a field it lacks something. The tennis players are in the off season and in variable shape, Gareth Bale dropped out of the 35 man squad for the UK soccer team due to "injury" but managed to play full games during Tottenham's tour of the USA.

I'm in favor of reducing the size of the contest. Right now the olympics requries facilities for all the world's major sports. While I love team handball very few people outside northern europe, spain and south korea care. The team sports would benefit from holding their own world championships in places where the locals care who wins. The individual sports would benefit from not having sports superstars slumming it or showing up half injured just to take in the atmosphere.