New sports at 2020 Olympics

[intoronto]

^^^

I doubt anything will be dropped, or added, at Durban. I think it's more just the preliminary skirmishes.

There would have been a lot more debate about the summer roster in the months leading up (as has happened with the winter roster and the proposal for slope style etc) if they were expecting to make any changes at this session. We've only just been told the list for possible inclusions - and the respective IFs haven't been doing much lobbying or campaigning. I'd expect if there's going to be changes to the SOG sports roster, it's likely this session will just start off the debates, and it'll by the IOC session in Buenos Aires where the summer sports votes will be made.

Yes I meant 2013, and according to the Insidethegames.biz one sport will be dropped as compulsory but can fight to be on the 2020 program.

[walei]

/\/\ It's all very stupid. It looks like they just need something to fill their time more than actually doing anything on the ground. It makes them look like a bunch of indecisive baboons.

It seems that way, but something good may come out of this. If a sport HAVE to be ejected every Olympiad it may keep the federations on their toes especially those with a history of corruption or unfair judging like Taekwondo.

[baron-pierreIV]

It seems that way, but something good may come out of this. If a sport HAVE to be ejected every Olympiad it may keep the federations on their toes especially those with a history of corruption or unfair judging like Taekwondo.

True; but the IOC's primary consideration is TV ratings--what will look good on TV and bring in the viewers. Corruption within the federations are secondary. Look at Boxing; it's been there since time immemorial and it's NOT leaving anytime soon. Figure Skating got cleaned up not because it was on the verge of expulsion, but because it's a very visible sport. Modern Pentathlon will go because there are what? Only 75 or so practitioners of the sport in the world; and cavalries are almost an extinct thing these days.

Yeah, bring on DANCING WITH THE STARS!

[Texas]

Can't they just eliminate baseball/softball already? What's the point of having Baseball as an Olympic sport when the best players in Baseball don't even play in the Olympics?

[baron-pierreIV]

Can't they just eliminate baseball/softball already? What's the point of having Baseball as an Olympic sport when the best players in Baseball don't even play in the Olympics?

I know. They've already said "No;" but baseball & softball are too pesky. They should just move them to the World Games drawer.

[intoronto]

I know. They've already said "No;" but baseball & softball are too pesky. They should just move them to the World Games drawer.

If MLB agrees to play in the Olympics almost a certainty baseball is included.

One also has to consider the IOC has been reluctant to add events to the Olympic program (staying at a magic 302) and with Modern pentathlon the likely sport that will be axed there probably is room for only 2 spots and the baseball/softball combination has exactly that amount.

[baron-pierreIV]

If MLB agrees to play in the Olympics almost a certainty baseball is included.

One also has to consider the IOC has been reluctant to add events to the Olympic program (staying at a magic 302) and with Modern pentathlon the likely sport that will be axed there probably is room for only 2 spots and the baseball/softball combination has exactly that amount.

Baseball & softball only got in because of 1984 and 1996 -- but really oustide of NO. America, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, a few Caribbean countries (maybe 2 dozen countries at most), it really has NO following in Africa & Asia -- the 2 other biggest constituencies of the IOC. It falls far short of the normal country limits of the IOC rules. It also burdens host cities, if they're other than North America with stadia that they will BARELY use after the Games (i.e., Athens). That is why they want to drop baseball. It's NOT as international as it thinks it is. SImilar story with softball -- and their idiotic insistence that they cannot compromise on their FOPs, really dooms them outside of the SOGs.

There are other sports to take its place that are individual performance sports therefore, again, requiring less bodies in the Villages while team sports like base/softball are like, what? 36 team & support staff. That is ONE more count vs. base/softball -- their large numbers.

Edited July 5, 2011 by baron-pierreIV

[Sir Rols]

If MLB agrees to play in the Olympics almost a certainty baseball is included.

One also has to consider the IOC has been reluctant to add events to the Olympic program (staying at a magic 302) and with Modern pentathlon the likely sport that will be axed there probably is room for only 2 spots and the baseball/softball combination has exactly that amount.

It's not the number of medals that are the problem, it's the number of competitors and the facilities required.

The thing is with Modern Pentathlon, is it's relatively cheap - it uses the athletic, swimming, equestrian etc facilities from the other sports, plus the field is limited to 36 men and 36 women.

Baseball on the other hand requires a dedicated pitch (which, if you're not the USA, Cuba, Japan or Taiwan is of virtually no use of interest afterwards), and has eight teams with an allowable team roster of 24 each - that's 192 athletes without even the support staff. Softball I couldn't find the team roster limits, but I'd imagine something similar. So looking at at about 500 per cent more competitors than MP requires. Both are expensive, heavy in numbers and really only of interest to about six nations of the world (and not even the sports number one - USA - is that interested without the MLB players). Even Oz - we've consistently won medals in it the past few games - has virtually no interest in it.

Now, I'm not a dedicated follower of Modern Pentathlon (who is?), it's a bit of a non-event. But the other thing is it's Baron De Coubertin's brainchild, pretty well an Olympic only sport developed just for the Olympics and one so steeped in Olympic tradition that it would be a big wrench for the IOC to bring themselves to drop it.

Edited July 5, 2011 by Sir Rols

[Texas]

If MLB agrees to play in the Olympics almost a certainty baseball is included.

That seems highly unlikely.

[baron-pierreIV]

Now, I'm not a dedicated follower of Modern Pentathlon (who is?), it's a bit of a non-event. But the other thing is it's Baron De Coubertin's brainchild, pretty well an Olympic only sport developed just for the Olympics and one so steeped in Olympic tradition that it would be a big wrench for the IOC to bring themselves to drop it.

Yeah, great-great-grandpappy invented it but with the Decathlon and the Heptathlon and the Triathlon, it's become redundant. It's also hard to follow on TV because you have to remember who those athletes were at the other venues.

[Triffle]

Maybe they should reform Modern Pentathlon to be a competition involving an event or element of every other sport on the programme. Or perhaps make it a a competition with 16 events- one for each day- maybe including a run, a throw and a jump plus 13 events from other disciplines.

Other that or cut it.

*Either, not other.

[intoronto]

Now, I'm not a dedicated follower of Modern Pentathlon (who is?), it's a bit of a non-event.

If anyone is interested, here is a read on baseball and the 2020 games.

Olympic-sized hurdles

[stryker]

I'm a bit disappointed to see cricket not among those sports considered. I spent part of my July 4th vacation in St. Kitts and Nevis. The locals gave me a nice education on cricket and I got to visit Warners Park.

[intoronto]

I'm a bit disappointed to see cricket not among those sports considered. I spent part of my July 4th vacation in St. Kitts and Nevis. The locals gave me a nice education on cricket and I got to visit Warners Park.

Cricket never.

[Sir Rols]

Cricket never.

I agree with you for the Olympics. For the CWGs, cricket should b compulsory.

[intoronto]

I agree with you for the Olympics. For the CWGs, cricket should b compulsory.

All the likely the CWG will end soon, with rumblings out of Canada and Australia (Scotland as well) wanting to become republics.

[Sir Rols]

All the likely the CWG will end soon, with rumblings out of Canada and Australia (Scotland as well) wanting to become republics.

Plenty of existing high profile republics in the Commonwealth already - try India and South Africa. The games have long evolved from being the British Empire Games.

[gotosy]

Squash unveils Olympics guru to mastermind 2020 Games bid success

In recent years, squash has fallen short when it comes to Olympic inclusion but the sport gained significant ground on Thursday when the team behind Pyeongchang's successful bid to host the 2018 Winter Games was appointed to mastermind its entry to the 2020 Games.

The sport has fought a long battle to garner enough votes from the International Olympic Committee's executive board having missed out on inclusion to the 2012 and 2016 Games.

Last week squash was shortlisted again by the IOC for a potential place in 2020 alongside seven other sports, including baseball and softball, karate and roller sports.

Now, the World Squash Federation has turned to Vero Communications, run by public relations strategist Mike Lee, who previously worked on the successful summer Olympic bids for London 2012, Rio 2016 and the Qatar 2022 football World Cup bid. Squash clearly feels it can't afford to miss out at the final hurdle for a third time.

"Mike Lee is hugely respected by the Olympic fraternity and his incredible success rate on behalf of bid teams in various sporting contexts speaks for itself," said WSF chief Andrew Shelley. "After helping to bring the 2018 Winter Olympic Games to PyeongChang in South Korea, we hope he can sprinkle some magic our way next.”

At an IOC vote in Singapore six years ago, squash was one of two sports put forward for 2012 after baseball and softball where ejected from the Beijing Games.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/squash/8623116/Squash-unveils-Olympics-guru-to-mastermind-2020-Games-bid-success.html

[intoronto]

Squash unveils Olympics guru to mastermind 2020 Games bid success

In recent years, squash has fallen short when it comes to Olympic inclusion but the sport gained significant ground on Thursday when the team behind Pyeongchang's successful bid to host the 2018 Winter Games was appointed to mastermind its entry to the 2020 Games.

The sport has fought a long battle to garner enough votes from the International Olympic Committee's executive board having missed out on inclusion to the 2012 and 2016 Games.

Last week squash was shortlisted again by the IOC for a potential place in 2020 alongside seven other sports, including baseball and softball, karate and roller sports.

Now, the World Squash Federation has turned to Vero Communications, run by public relations strategist Mike Lee, who previously worked on the successful summer Olympic bids for London 2012, Rio 2016 and the Qatar 2022 football World Cup bid. Squash clearly feels it can't afford to miss out at the final hurdle for a third time.

"Mike Lee is hugely respected by the Olympic fraternity and his incredible success rate on behalf of bid teams in various sporting contexts speaks for itself," said WSF chief Andrew Shelley. "After helping to bring the 2018 Winter Olympic Games to PyeongChang in South Korea, we hope he can sprinkle some magic our way next.”

At an IOC vote in Singapore six years ago, squash was one of two sports put forward for 2012 after baseball and softball where ejected from the Beijing Games.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/squash/8623116/Squash-unveils-Olympics-guru-to-mastermind-2020-Games-bid-success.html

Squash? although considered an exotic and boring sport in the west has a chance, but one has to consider that there already is three racket sports on the program.

[Texas]

If MLB agrees to play in the Olympics almost a certainty baseball is included.

That means it won't happen. A delay for a month of Olympic baseball would mean the season would go all the way until Halloween with the World Series ending sometime around Thanksgiving.

[gotosy]

Climbing Possible for 2020 Olympics: Will It Make the Cut?

On July 6 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board, meeting at the 123rd IOC session in Durban, South Africa, announced that sport climbing was one of eight sports shortlisted for inclusion in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Three climbing disciplines--lead climbing, speed climbing, and bouldering--are proposed for the Olympics.

...

While climbing probably won't be included in the Olympic Games in nine years, it's a big deal that competition climbing has finally received recognition from the IOC. The first step toward the Olympics was in 2007 when the International Federation of Sport Climbing was recognized as the world-governing body for climbing. Without that recognition, it was impossible for climbing to be placed on equal terms with popular sports like baseball, karate, and roller sports.

...

The early front-runners for the vacant Olympic spot appear to be baseball and softball, although the two international federations are considering a joint proposal to enhance their chances of being picked to dance. Just behind is squash, which vied with golf and rugby for the 2016 Games but lost out. Squash enthusiasts like Pakistani legend Jahangir Khan see squash as the logical candidate for 2020 inclusion.

Each sport will be intensively studied by the IOC Programme Commission, which will lead to a report in early 2013. After that some sports may be eliminated before the vote. There is also a wild card in the process. After the 2012 London Olympics, one of the 26 sports there will be cut but will, however, be eligible to compete on the new shortlist for the single 2020 spot.

The IOC will weigh a lot of factors when deciding which sport to include in the Olympic program, including global appeal; the inclusion of athletes of both sexes; the attractiveness of sports to various demographics, especially young audiences (the X-Games factor); the sport's appeal for television broadcasts; and, of course, money.

With NBC spending $4.38 billion to broadcast the next four Olympic Games, it seems logical that an all-American sport like baseball will fit the bill. Really, it's a duh question. Which sport is NBC going to want to promote and televise--climbing or baseball? It's a no-brainer.

Climbing, despite having wonderful athletes from across the world, won't make the Games this time around because of several factors. Climbing, as the new kid on the block with several other sports, will have a hard time competing against giants like baseball, softball, and squash. The climbing venue will be expensive to build. Climbing doesn't lend itself to broadcast television since its action is usually incremental. These last two factors led to the X-Games dropping sport climbing from its program.

Lastly, competition climbing isn't that popular in most countries. Climbing does well in Europe, of course, but anywhere else? Would Africans tune in to watch climbing? What about the billion-plus people in India and Pakistan? Wouldn't they rather watch squash on the telly? Or even the good old US of A. Would television audiences tune in to watch American heroes speed climbing against the Ukrainians or would they rather watch stale re-runs of Friends or Seinfeld?

http://climbing.about.com/b/2011/07/08/climbing-possible-for-2020-olympics-will-it-make-the-cut.htm

[BUFanatic]

Dancesport!!!!

[gotosy]

Wakeboard Moves Toward 2020 Olympics Inclusion

By: IWWF

IWWF | Tuesday, August 23, 2011 12:00:00 AM PST

MAJOR WORLD CONGRESS AGREES FULL SUPPORT FOR OLYMPICS 2020 WAKEBOARD INCLUSION

The recent World Congress of the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) held in Dubna, Russia, was attended by representatives from the Confederations of Europe/Africa, Pan America and Asia/Australasia/Oceana. The President, Kuno Ritschard, informed the delegates of the July 14th announcement of the IOC to include the sport of Wakeboard in the short list of sports to be considered for inclusion in the 2020 Olympic Games. With a limit of 28 sports in the Games, the final decision on which new sport will be included will be made at the 125th IOC session in Buenos Aires in 2013.

The IWWF Delegates attending the Congress in Russia fully supported the possible inclusion of Wakeboard in the 2020 Games. An international task force was immediately established to drive the programme forward. The task force members are based in Switzerland, Colombia, France, Italy, Croatia and Ireland.

The programme to prepare the presentations for the IOC was also launched under the heading of WAKEBOARD 2020 VISION, together with an updated IWWF Logo to emphasis the enormous opportunity available. Just as Snowboard brought such a successful addition to the Winter Olympics, Wakeboard certainly has the potential to add a totally new youth-focused lifestyle sport to the Summer Games in 2020.

Within days of the IOC announcement, a poll was launched by SportsPro Media (www.sportspromedia.com), a major B2B sports industry group which works with sports sponsors, rights holders, broadcasters, manufacturers, etc. Its objective was to try to assess the immediate level of support for each of the eight sports included in the 2020 IOC possibilities list. Only two of the sports identified showed any really significant following. They were Softball and Wakeboard.

As the growth sport of Wakeboard is now often performed in environmentally friendly Cable Parks, this media and sponsor friendly arena format has many advantages from an Olympic Games perspective. The IWWF has had extensive contacts with the IOC for over 50 years and has enthusiastically welcomed the inclusion of Wakeboard in the 2020 Games shortlist. All recognize that a long struggle lies ahead to satisfy IOC requirements. Both the strong support that emerged from the recent IWWF Congress and the SportsPro Media Poll have given a very positive boost to Wakeboard for the challenge ahead.

WAKEBOARD 2020 VISION will now complete the enormous preparation task ahead. All involved fully appreciate the need to satisfy the stringent requirements of the IOC programme. Following over fifty years of continuous development, the IWWF now believes that the time is right for Wakeboard to take this final step of recognition.

International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation

[gotosy]

Karate is "ready" for inclusion on Olympic programme in 2020, claims President

..The IOC could not have been in any closer proximity, meaning London 2012 was particularly crucial for karate, as it was for their fiercest rivals, squash, baseball and softball. Like them, karate is hoping to make it third time lucky after bids for 2012 and 2016 failed. In the case of their bid to be a part of the Olympics which have just concluded in London, karate was especially unfortunate, having won the support of a majority within the IOC, but not quite the two thirds of the voters they needed to win that particular race. For 2020, wushu, roller skating, wakeboard and climbing are also in the running to make it onto the Olympic programme.

...

The IOC will send an observer to witness this year's World Championships in Paris in November, a key stage in the bidding process. A full report will be prepared by early 2013 on the eight sports, before the successful sport is recommended for inclusion in 2020 at the Session in Buenos Aires next September. There will also be one of the current 26 sports cut from the Olympic programme, with both taekwondo and judo possibly in line for the chop.

Espinos is keen to get across that they "do not want to talk about replacements" and argues they are no more deserving than any existing martial art of inclusion. Each sport has its own place at the Games, he says. But the WKF President is also eager to point out that karate is "the most practised martial art in the world."

Another factor which could help is that karate originated in Japan, and it would be fitting were they to be included on the programme in time for an Olympics which could be held in Tokyo in 2020, if the city beats Istanbul and Madrid to host that edition of the Games – the decision for which will be made in Buenos Aires.

Another potential advantage for karate is the low cost of including the sport on the Olympic programme. There would be 130 athletes competing over two days in the 10 categories already competed at during the World Championships. Karate requires no specialist equipment, and can be competed at the same venue as wrestling, judo, taekwondo and many other sports. As the WKF state on their dedicated bid website, their sport requires just "will, effort and a floor."

Possibly the biggest problem karate will face is the strength of competition they will be up against. Squash is similarly universal, and is throwing significant resources behind their bid, aided by Mike Lee's Vero Communications. Whilst baseball and softball are, unlike squash or karate, a former Olympic sport, and are merging their bids to strengthen their own hopes, giving them an increased global reach.

...

http://www.insidethe...ympic-programme

[Triffle]

Have I got this right? Is the IOC selecting 25 core sports for the 2020 Olympics, and then I assume the 3 excluded plus new sports will compete for the final 3 places???

In which case, ignoring personal preference, what sports will most likely be outside the core list?