Everyone knows there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the Beijing Olympics, but no one is focused on the real problem with the International games. If you are like most Americans, you probably don’t follow te Games that closely, but still get disappointed when you find out we didn’t win gold in every event.
That being said, besides the main events that get a lot of airtime i.e. swimming, track (particularly the 100m), and popular American sports like basketball, do you really know why our medal count is so high? Does anyone really know all the sports included in the games or for that matter which ones are not included?
Since the Olympics began in 1896 the United States has won Summer Gold 895 times and 78 in the Winter. That is a total of 973 total gold medals, the next closest country is the Soviet Union with 473 (and no I don’t mean Russia they sit at 14th with 119).
Take a step further and combine three-medal totals and we sit at 2405 lifetime, with the Soviets in a distant second at 1204. I bring this up because, once again, the world, specifically the International Olympic Committee, has begun to turn on the United States.
The 2008 Beijing Games will be the last time that baseball and softball will be included. The IOC has voted to eliminate the sports starting in the 2012 London Olympics because it was deemed "too American for the International Stage." It becomes the first sport eliminated since polo was ousted in 1936. There were three sports on the table for elimination, and Modern Pentathlon was the only sport that maintained its place in the Games.
There are 28 Sports at Beijing, and there will be 26 in London as I stated above. Try to think of 26 sports, some of you will have trouble, some of you will begin to name absolutely obscure competitions. Now, if you made it to 26, in how many of those would you like to see people competing for a Gold medal? There are many competitions and athletic activities that are completely valid on their own, but do not have that Olympic feel or international prestige that the IOC so desperately wants.
Baseball has been recognized since the 1992 Barcelona Games. In the four Olympics, it was recognized the U.S has one Gold and one Bronze. I wouldn’t exactly call that American domination. Ask Cuba, though—they have three Golds and one Silver.
Let's take a look at where we can make some cuts to make room for Baseball/Softball, or at least be American and take away sports other countries enjoy because they took away something for us.
Starting with swimming and diving competitions (Aquatics), I completely endorse all team and individual events. On the other hand, water polo and synchronized swimming are included, and of the two, I have to cut synchronized swimming. It comes down to the fact that there have been 18 countries to medal in water polo while synchronized swimming has only had five countries on the podium (U.S., Canada, Russia, Japan, and France).
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4 months ago
Nice article. The more sports the better in my opinion, but I'm not sure everyone else thinks the same way. Good point about table tennis. Maybe we should see billiards and darts in the Olympics.
Also agree with golf. It's a truly international game, and so should be included.
Not so sure about cricket, although it would give the Aussies a good chance at another medal so I'd be very happy with that. I think rugby has more chance than cricket, and should get some consideration. The only problem is that it'd be like soccer in the fact that the World Cup would still be more prestigious.
4 months ago
Nice read i second you on the point about Rugby being included, infact wasnt the 7's version supposed to be in the Beijing Olympics?
4 months ago
You should get your facts straight before taking shots at a sport as popular as table tennis. With the exception of soccer, table tennis is played by more people world wide than any other sport. There is a very significant difference between table tennis and billiards or darts: the best table tennis players in the world are great athletes, possessing quickness, agility and aerobic conditioning.
from 4 months ago
I completely understand that it is played by more people world wide than any other (besides soccer). The problem is that the majority of those people live in China. It is one country's passion not exactly an international draw as far as sports are concerned.
from 4 months ago
China's passion vs America's past time. Maybe you dis-proved your point.
4 months ago
The whole "too American" thing is bogus for the reasons you stated... Cuba has wont three of the past four gold medals and the US didn't even qualify in 2004.
How exactly is that too American? Because its our sport? So what, tons of countries have adapted it and have tried hard to produce athletes to compete in it. That is a silly reason on the IOC's part.
4 months ago
COMPLETE CRAP, especially da part about rythmin gynastics, its a very HIGHLY disaplined sport, how dare you, have sum appriciation.
Its probably beacuz they're so female dominated n ur a sexist pig.
As for crikt,glf, n ruby they have there own competition, it wud b a waste of olympic time to include them
3 months ago
Baseball isn't too American. American's aren't even doing well in baseball in the olympics what the hell are you talking about? The women don't even have professional leagues in America, so of course they are going to be damn good, because it's what they train/look forward to. I believe that every single possible sport with a semi major-major fan base should be included in the olympics. Fuck the IOC and their ridiculous decision to leave out these two major sports. It's going to piss off a lot of asians/cubans/americans/australians....it's not just Americas game. That's like saying they should get rid of soccer because it's Englands game when they aren't even dominate anymore...never really were. It's just that the EPL is the top league in the world. Don't like this article.
3 months ago
Whoops, I must say sorry, I was going off others comments...Great article actually! Completely agree.
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