NationStates Jolt Archive

Watching the Olympics it's become clear that it's gotten far too large and unweildy. It's costing far too much ($10 Billion at last count for the Greeks) - apparently around $35000 p/athlete. So I wonder if there's any sports we can do without. Give reasons here ppl.
Mine are:
Football: Because they have the FIFA World cup which is way bigger and far more sort-after than an olympic medal
Tennis: Pretty much same reasons as per football. I doubt you'd find one ranked tennis player that given the option between winning Wimbledon and winning an Olympic gold would go fot the latter. So why have it here?
Equestrian: It's too expensive and elitist a sport for most of the world to partake in, and this is meant to be celebrating World sport. Has there ever been an African, South American or Asian team take part in Equestrian?
Boxing: Until they sort out the scoring system, it's a joke. I seen 1/2 a dozen fights where the better man lost, having not been scored on obvious clean hits.
Sailing: I don't think it's much of a majority sport ad there's not that interest in the general public for it.

Rhythmic gymnastics. Enough said.

I agree that it's not necessary for football and tennis to be there. But as for sailing and equestrian, and also sports such as taekwando, they still have a large number of amateur atheletes competing in them (rather than 100% professionals as is generally the case in eg football). This is what the Olympic ideal is about and I think it should be upheld as much as possible.

I'm a rather old fashioned sort and as a result, I've always believed they should stick to the original Greek sports of old. Wresting, various track and field events and so forth. Things have just gone out of hand these days.

Rhythmic gymnastics. Enough said.
I said give reasons. Please.
Also feel free to contradict my suggestions if you feel they're worthy to stay.

the 20 and 50KM walking!!!
i mean you can't get a medal for walking quickly. what next???
fastest person to take a bus into central Athens???

synchronized swimming....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....i'd have to disagree with sailing coz i'm a brit and it's one of the only things we are any good at :), apart from relays that is

I think we should drop all events which require subjective decisions made by a panel of judges: gymnastics, diving, formation drowning, etc etc. Apart from the near-constant undercurrent of partisan voting and error, these events are obviously so specialised that it's impossible for spectators to see why one competitor's performance was slightly better or worse than another's. It's supposed to be about faster, stronger, higher, further; not "technically better".

the 20 and 50KM walking!!!
i mean you can't get a medal for walking quickly. what next???
fastest person to take a bus into central Athens???
It's not even 'walking quickly'. It's 'walking quickly with a carrot up your butt'. But yeah I knew I'd forgot something. The Walk is a completely bizarre notion.
Bear with me here, It might seem a little weird:
When I think about what should be in the olympics, I like to think of it in terms of what skills would I need if I was being chased by a horde of flesh-eating zombies. Because originally the skills were necessary for survival (in battle at least).
So being chased:
Pointy items nearby: javelin-throwing skills ideal.
Big fence: high jump! (or possibly gymnastic skills)
some still chasing me
Really Big fence: Pole vault!
still being chased
Big Ditch: Long Jump!
Chasing...
lake: swimming!
still being chased (don't they ever give up?)
Big heavy objects to crush them: Weightlifting!
last couple left...
big empty area
Ohh, best mince out of there with a carrot up my butt. Yeah that makes sense.
Or: Hang on, there's a ribbon. I'm going wander round and round the zombies flicking the ribbon up and down and doing the splits while grinning inanely.
That'll teach them.

On a serious note, another one they could get rid of is the shooting. There's something like 19 golds given out. And how many of you sat up to watch those enthralling events? :rolleyes:

Rhythmic gymnastics. Enough said.
What is wrong about women dancing around in tight outfits? :P

I think the slow, specialized sports, like equastrian and the Walk, should go, since they are not very popular worldwide anyway. On the other hand, an interesting form of sports missing form modern olympics could be the Hoplite run, or a footrace in a suit of armour. It would propably take a century for the Olympic committee to agree on the type of the armour, though. ;)

You can't get rid of Boxing.
It has suffered from corruption and dodgy promoters a lot over the past few years and the "alphabet soup" of organisations confuses issues more-WBA,WBC,WBO,etc....
The Olympics are a credible proofing ground where many well-known boxers have started out.

Walking should NOT be an Olympic Sport, full stop. If they're going to give out medals for Walking, how about medals for sitting on your ass watching TV?

The Beach Volleyball is a difficult one- one one hand, Beach Volleyball is not supposed to be an Olympic Sport! The whole point is that beach volleyball is played with a few mates on the beach, informally, and everyone has a few cold ones afterwards.

On the other hand, there's nothing wrong with watching women in bikinis jumping all over the place... ;)

What is wrong about women dancing around in tight outfits? :P

Well I wouldn't really call them women, more like growth stunted girls with no bosoms.

Table Tennis needs to go. Any "sport" that is played in mental hospitals shouldn't be included.

One that should be added is Death Racing. I mean come on, how awesome would it be to see explosions and flames. Esp if a driver who was on fire ran out of his burning wreck and jumped into the pool to put himself out. Or as the cars were racing around the stadium and one clipped the olympic torch causing it to fall into the stands and exploding, killing and maiming hundreds.

Also let's get rid of Male Gymnastics. They look positively "funny" doing what they do. Sure Gymkata was a positive example of male gymnastics, but come on, they all look like girlie men, esp their floor exercises'.

If they got rid of gymnastics lots of people wouldn't watch the olympics. People who are not generally into sport like to watch gymnastics, synchro swimming, diving etc because they are more elegant.

If they got rid of gymnastics lots of people wouldn't watch the olympics. People who are not generally into sport like to watch gymnastics, synchro swimming, diving etc because they are more elegant.

Keep the female ones, but get rid of those male gymnasts.

Keep the female ones, but get rid of those male gymnasts.

Maybe the stuff on the floor, but male gymnasts on the rings, the horse and the high bars are incredible to watch.

Well I wouldn't really call them women, more like growth stunted girls with no bosoms.

Maybe he has a few latent desires for young men... try the mens diving.



Syncronized diving... what the heck? What could possible make that a real sport? Put a great white and a few tiger sharks in the pool too, score on exiting speed, perfect ten requires walking on water...

I say ban anything not strenous enough to make you gasp for air while being interviewed.

Maybe he has a few latent desires for young men... try the mens diving.



Syncronized diving... what the heck? What could possible make that a real sport? Put a great white and a few tiger sharks in the pool too, score on exiting speed, perfect ten requires walking on water...

I say ban anything not strenous enough to make you gasp for air while being interviewed.

You brought up the homosexual innuendo so maybe you are the one who likes young lads. I was just saying these girls train so hard, their "developement" is seriously compromised.

Plus in diving they should have some mines in the pool, if you hit one you are dq'd. Plus there would be explosions and flames. Now tell me who doesn't like a little carnage.

i think every sport should be kept. what needs changing are the accountants.