If you ruled the.....IOC

[JAS]

Ok following on from a bit of chat in the softball thread...if you got put in charge of the IOC tomorrow and could make the decisions unopposed what would you change???

What sports would you introduce or bring back...what would you dump (because I don't like it is considered a valid reason )???

Would you change any rules or regulations ???

I would keep/introduce:
Baseball (see softball)
Softball (wasn't Aus v Jap exciting enough)
Rugby sevens (because I said so)
20/20 cricket (ideal format for the Olympics)
Netball (they got basketball...what's wrong with netball)

I would dump:
Soccer (because I said so...might consider allowing 5-a-side to stop the whingers)
Synchronized swimming (oh please)
BMX (it's just showing off on a bike...might as well bring in skatboarding and rollerblading)
Rhythmic gymnastics (it's dancing and clever bending with ribbons)
Windsurfing (I dated a windsurfer once...it's boring)
Beach volleyball (put the men in Speedo's and it's a maybe...otherwise it's just there to increase tissue sales )

As for rules and regs...probably need to think about it a bit more but I miss the amateur aspect to the Olympics so maybe make it comp for amateurs again.

Your turn
Regards
JAS

[silicone skyline]

I would love to introduce an extreme element to the games.
Think about it, the acrobatics are nothing short of elite.

Ditch dressage equestrian.
It's too much about the horse and not much about the athlete, what component of fitness do you need to become a dressage rider?

[JAS]

I would love to introduce an extreme element to the games.
Think about it, the acrobatics are nothing short of elite.

Ditch dressage equestrian.
It's too much about the horse and not much about the athlete, what component of fitness do you need to become a dressage rider?

In this fantasy Olympics you can of course change whatever you like...that's the point but just to explain a bit the dressage element isn't so much about fitness or strength etc it's about the skill of the rider in controlling the horses actions with the minimum of aids ie verbal or physical instructions. In the same way that you don't need to be a supreme example of fitness to take part in the shooting.

When you say extreme do you mean sports like base-jumping and free-climbing etc...just asking as I've never done anything more extreme than pot-holing (30+ years ago) so not sure what comprises an extreme sport these days

Regards
JAS

[Pidge]

Ok following on from a bit of chat in the softball thread...if you got put in charge of the IOC tomorrow and could make the decisions unopposed what would you change???

What sports would you introduce or bring back...what would you dump (because I don't like it is considered a valid reason )???

Would you change any rules or regulations ???

I would keep/introduce:
Baseball (see softball)
Softball (wasn't Aus v Jap exciting enough)
Rugby sevens (because I said so)
20/20 cricket (ideal format for the Olympics)
Netball (they got basketball...what's wrong with netball)

I would dump:
Soccer (because I said so...might consider allowing 5-a-side to stop the whingers)
Synchronized swimming (oh please)
BMX (it's just showing off on a bike...might as well bring in skatboarding and rollerblading)
Rhythmic gymnastics (it's dancing and clever bending with ribbons)
Windsurfing (I dated a windsurfer once...it's boring)
Beach volleyball (put the men in Speedo's and it's a maybe...otherwise it's just there to increase tissue sales )

As for rules and regs...probably need to think about it a bit more but I miss the amateur aspect to the Olympics so maybe make it comp for amateurs again.

Your turn
Regards
JAS

I agree with some of what you said. Synchronised Swimming and BMX bike riding are not sports so they should be dumped. Softball should be here to stay as it was a great game last night. Soccer should stay. The under 23 format is a great idea and has worked well. Netball is a good idea, maybe in the next few years and definately not baseball. USA would dominate that.

[magpie in the 80's]

Netball is a good idea, maybe in the next few years and definately not baseball. USA would dominate that

baseball has only been an official sport in the olympics since 1992 with the following countries winning medals

1992 Barcelona - Cuba - Chinese Taipei - Japan
1996 Atlanta - Cuba - Japan - United States
2000 Sydney - United States - Cuba - South Korea
2004 Athens - Cuba - Australia - Japan

as you can see CUBA dominates this sport

[JAS]

Netball is a good idea, maybe in the next few years and definately not baseball. USA would dominate that

baseball has only been an official sport in the olympics since 1992 with the following countries winning medals

1992 Barcelona - Cuba - Chinese Taipei - Japan
1996 Atlanta - Cuba - Japan - United States
2000 Sydney - United States - Cuba - South Korea
2004 Athens - Cuba - Australia - Japan

as you can see CUBA dominates this sport

As I said it's your Olympics so you can do anything you like...bring in Tiddleywinks if that's what floats your boat But I do agree with Mags...you just have to look at how many baseball players in the USA are actually from Puerto Rica, Cuba, Dominica Rep etc...you'll either get a lot of citizenship ceremonies or they'll have to play for their home countries. Oh and don't forget I'm bringing back the amateur element so no sneaking in A-Rod and co

Regards
JAS

[magpie in the 80's]

bring back tug of war as a sport

[Dirko]

I'd get the FEMALE athletes to do it how it was meant to be done...NUDE !

Especially the Womens Volleyball team and Poland in particular

The blokes can wear Robes

[JAS]

I'd get the FEMALE athletes to do it how it was meant to be done...NUDE !

Especially the Womens Volleyball team and Poland in particular

The blokes can wear Robes

The only flaw to your plan is that going back that far...ie doing it nude...it was a men only competition...participants and spectators...women weren't allowed. When they did eventually introduce a seperate Games for women...the Heraea Games...the women had to wear clothes.
Bad luck Jabber

Regards
JAS

[Dirko]

Yeah but IF I ruled it'd happen

Ohh yeah, also bring back "live" targets for the shooting

[JAS]

Yeah but IF I ruled it'd happen

Ohh yeah, also bring back "live" targets for the shooting

Ok but you might need to raise the age limit in things like gymnastics or you could end up on a database somewhere.

Regards
JAS

[Squawk]

Aussie Rules or International Rules, of course!

What do people think about lawn bowls?

I cant see netball or rugby getting in but then again handball and BMX make it!

[JAS]

Aussie Rules or International Rules, of course!

What do people think about lawn bowls?

I cant see netball or rugby getting in but then again handball and BMX make it!

Don't be too sure about that...this is the chat that prompted me to start this thread...didn't want to spoil the softball thread

why isn't softball in the 2012 olympics?

They're saying that it's back in 2016, but not in '12. Does anyone know why?

Probably not a lot of help but this was the last report on the BBC that I could find.
I think the reason it might be back in 2016 is because Chicago and Tokyo are two of the bidding cities and either without baseball/softball would be unthinkable.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_s ... 696902.stm

Olympic sports fail in appeal bid

Appeals to reinstate baseball and softball to the London 2012 Olympic Games programme have been rejected.

International Olympic Committee members voted 46-42 and 47-43 against baseball and softball respectively.

The decision means London organisers will save around £50m for two planned stadia in Regent's Park.

London 2012 organising committee chairman Lord Coe said: "We are neither disappointed nor pleased. Regent's Park will still host the road cycling."

Baseball and softball will make their last appearance as Olympic sports in Beijing in 2008.

The decision to exclude the sports from London had been made in July but met with resistance from the governing bodies concerned and some IOC members.

Despite Thursday's vote, Japan - bronze-medallists in both sports - pledged to maintain the fight to bring softball and baseball back into the Olympic fold.

"We will think about the way to break out of this tough situation," Japanese Olympic Committee president Tsunekazu Takeda said afterwards.

"I don't believe that the door is completely closed for the two sports."

The next time the two sports may have a chance to appeal for their comeback into the Olympic programme will be at the 2009 IOC Session in Copenhagen.

regards
JAS

Also this from 2004 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic ... 052597.stm
Sorry golf lovers but...GOLF feckn Olympic golf
Regards
JAS

...Over the last few Games several sports, which are not hugely popular globally, have been included in the Olympic programme, leading to suggestions that the likes of softball, baseball or even tennis should be axed.

IOC president Jacques Rogge reportedly believes baseball, modern pentathlon and softball in particular should not feature by the time of the 2008 Beijing Games.

The IOC held a special session on that issue last autumn, but officials unanimously decided to put off a decision until after the 2004 Games.

Although baseball has wide appeal in certain countries, the IOC has said its popularity is "not reflected throughout entire regions or continents".

Disciplines such as the walking events and canoe/kayak slalom, along with keelboat sailing and team synchronized swimming, may also be scrapped.

No sport has been dropped from the summer Games since polo in 1936.

Meanwhile, a serious debate is still ongoing as to whether new sports should be included in the Olympic programme.

Last year the IOC confirmed golf and rugby sevens are under consideration.

Regards
JAS

[Tassie Blues]

If I ruled the IOC I would certainly have not spent the last 12 days in a hostel that cost me US$230 per night and had to slum it on the trains and taxis of Beijing it would be presidential suite at a 5* hotel and my own car and drive in the Olympic lanes!

Now onto what I would change sports wise Softball and Baseball would both be back in as would Rugby 7’s. Cricket in 20/20 form and Netball would also be major considerations.

Out would be synchronised swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, Greco-roman wrestling and canoe events (kayak flat/slalom to stay) also have to have a serious look at weightlifting due to drugs in the sport.

I would also make sure Australia was to host a summer games with in the next 20 years either Melbourne or Brisbane. All athletes that compete at the games would be tested before during and after the games for drugs and also more random out of competition tests for potential athletes in the 4 years before a games.

[gadj1976]

I'm surprised about the cricket comments. I think there is enough meaningless cricket going on as it is, let alone have it in the olympics. SURELY netball deserves to be there before cricket.

[mypaddock]

If you have netball in there would you also have to have mens netball?

Equestrian has to go as does showjumping? (not 100% on the name) any sport with an animal involved should not be in the olympics.
If soccer is going to be included it should only involve u/21 players as the world cup is the showpiece of mens soccer and the olympics pail in comparison. Also tennis has to be re-assessed as an olympic sport- more than half of the worlds' best players don't even compete.
I think any sport that has other competitions that have more meaning/recognition should be scrapped from the Olympics.

Synchronised swimming, trampolining, bmx, windsurfing are all a joke and should be excluded.

[gadj1976]

If you have netball in there would you also have to have mens netball?

Nup, synch swimming is women's only (thank goodness). Softball is women's only also.

[Strawb]

Well for starters
I would keep baseball and softball.
Sports i would add
Ten Pin bowling
cricket 20/20 format
lawn bowls
rugby league sevens.
I would get rid of
synchronized swimming (whats the point of it.)
BMX
Wind surfing

[JAS]

If you have netball in there would you also have to have mens netball?

Nup, synch swimming is women's only (thank goodness). Softball is women's only also.

The thought of men doing that is such a scary image...no doubt perfect for a Ben Stiller movie though.

It's your Games so you can make your sports available to whichever gender you like.

Rhythmic gymnastics is now the first for the axe for me...just seen pics of what looks like a former kiddie pagent queen jumping about with a bit of knotted rope

Regards
JAS

[devilsadvocate]

bring back tug of war as a sport

Sack race? Egg n spoon relay?