Two that come to my mind right now are squash, and mixed doubles curling.
Squash has had a world number one player from ever continent, and mixed doubles curling has more countries at it's world championship then regular curling.
Edit: Another thought Bandy, Cricket
Edit 2: I also think the Paralympics should be merged with the regular Olympics (the events would stay separate of course, but they would happen at the same time)
Last edited by saskriders: 02-25-2012 at 01:27 AM.
-Both have well-established professional/competitive circuits.
-Both have strong fields for both men and women. For ice climbing in particular, you could even take the audacious leap of having men and women compete together.
-Both have very diverse international representation, so a ton of different countries could easily be competitive from just about every continent.
-Both can be approached competitively from several different angles (difficulty, speed, different styles, etc.) so it could make for an easy sport to have lots of different events in.
-Both feature athletes who are in supremely good physical condition, so from that perspective they market well. With regards to rock climbing in particular, you can market the sex appeal aspect of the competitors (a lot of the females compete wearing outfits that don't cover up much more than a beach volleyball outfit does, if anything).
I imagine (as long as the schedule for the pitch(es) allow it they will eventually add it. Same with golf, I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually added match play. Most sports that have a popular second "discipline" (what the IOC would refer to it as) will see that eventually added.
Rugby is too physical for a short event like the Olympics, the world cup takes almost two months to play as you can only really play one game per week. Also we'll have rugby sevens at the 2016 Olympics. It's good format that's widely played and followed and is way less taxing on the body. You can play a full tournament in the space of a weekend without and bother. Having a second rugby format wouldn't be best.
If you want to add another sport I think Cricket really has to be there. Test is obviously out of the question but Twenty20 would be a great addition. Loads of support for it and more nations can compete in that format, really should be there soon.
Dogsled racing for the winter. And a winter Modern Pentathlon type event.
Summer modern penthatlon (what a 1900AD gentleman should excel in): pistol shooting, épée fencing, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a 3 km cross-country run.
Winter modern penthatlon (what a 1900AD woodsman should excel in): rifle shooting, axe fencing, 200 m 1 degrees celsius swimming, dog-sled racing and 3 km snowshoe cross-country run.
Rugby is too physical for a short event like the Olympics, the world cup takes almost two months to play as you can only really play one game per week. Also we'll have rugby sevens at the 2016 Olympics. It's good format that's widely played and followed and is way less taxing on the body. You can play a full tournament in the space of a weekend without and bother. Having a second rugby format wouldn't be best.
If you want to add another sport I think Cricket really has to be there. Test is obviously out of the question but Twenty20 would be a great addition. Loads of support for it and more nations can compete in that format, really should be there soon.
Yeah that's the main problem with it, but I'd like to see the All Blacks and Springboks going at it at the Olympics.
Sevens could also be more attractive for casual viewers.
Bandy is too much like Women's hockey to be given serious consideration as an Olympic sport. Sweden and Russia are simply too far ahead of the other nations that play it.
Floorball suffers from the same problem to some extent, but it is arguably much closer to becoming an Olympic sport due to the extreme growth it is experiencing.
Quote:
Edit 2: I also think the Paralympics should be merged with the regular Olympics (the events would stay separate of course, but they would happen at the same time)
That is not a possibility due to logistical reasons. It just wouldn't be possible to host all those events at the same venues and building additional venues is not financially viable.
Bandy is too much like Women's hockey to be given serious consideration as an Olympic sport. Sweden and Russia are simply too far ahead of the other nations that play it.
Floorball suffers from the same problem to some extent, but it is arguably much closer to becoming an Olympic sport due to the extreme growth it is experiencing.
That is not a possibility due to logistical reasons. It just wouldn't be possible to host all those events at the same venues and building additional venues is not financially viable.
Would it be possible if they extended the game by a week? I'm pretty sure most of the venues aren't used every day . Regardless, I think it would bring more attention to the Paralympic events and put it on a similar level, and in 20 or 30 years it could be considered to be on the same level.
No one's going to like this suggestion, but I believe it firmly:
Auto-Racing.
It's one of the world's most popular sports. I can name superstar drivers from a lot of countries.
Have them run formula cars similar to F1, and have each country construct the cars using brands from those countries.
Such is my suggestion.
I would love some sort of motorsport involved, my personal preference being either dirt bikes or road racing (MotoGP style), though I have no problem with a F1 sort of deal.
I just can't imagine the IOC doing it, theres a stigma that it should be based purely on "athletic ability" and an engine would tarnish it, at least from their viewpoints. I think we both know that it takes endurance and strength most people just don't comprehend to race, look at motocross, it's like riding a bull for thirty-five minutes and two laps. Sadly, theres a sense of tradition that will always overpower what people would like to see, or is deserving.
Rugby Seven's have applied a few times but have been rejected, and the Olympic committee described it as a "joke"
The Olympic committee didn't describe it as a joke, one person did, a guy who claimed he wasn't an expert on Rugby and was just parroting what he claimed to hear from others. Might want to actually check up on your facts before spreading rubbish.
and it's coming into the Olympics in 2016, so clearly the Olympic committee doesn't think it's a joke.
. Regardless, I think it would bring more attention to the Paralympic events and put it on a similar level, and in 20 or 30 years it could be considered to be on the same level.
