London Olympics 2012: Top 5 Events We Need Back in 2016

The process for getting a sport added as an Olympic event is long and maybe even a little bit mysterious. But, in essence, it boils down to international popularity. In order to be included, a sport must have a significant number of competitors in a significant enough number of countries all across the globe. 

For this reason, sports are routinely added and eliminated. Since the modern games began in 1896, dozens of events have made appearances at one or more Games—either as demonstration sports or regular events—only to be cast aside.

All of the rejected events have had their share of passionate fans, disappointed to see their sport cut loose. These are the top five I would love to see brought back.  

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Surf Lifesaving

This sport made an appearance in the 1900 Games. Today it is popular primarily in Australia and New Zealand but, considering the huge international popularity of Baywatch since the 1990s, you would think this sport would have a chance to come back. 

The sport also conforms nicely to the Games' ultimate humanitarian ideals. It is, after all, a contest designed to hone the crucial real life skills of saving people from drowning in the ocean.

It is also a great test of athletic prowess. The physical stamina, swimming and rowing skills required are exceptional. Indeed, many of the best Olympic kayak competitors from down under come from surf lifesaving backgrounds. 

Savate

Savate, sometimes referred to as French Kickboxing, was a demonstration sport at the Paris Games of 1924. It is an exciting and fast-paced combat sport and, in my book, the more combat sports they add to the Olympics, the better. 

Savate would be a nice bridge between boxing and Taekwondo. Ideally I would like to see Muy Thai instead, but the knee and elbow strikes of that sport might be a little too brutal for the IOC to accept. 

Similarly, I don't have great hope for the nascent movement to get MMA added. Even if it did happen, I suspect the rules would be heavily watered down and the best athletes would be unwilling to break from professional competition. 

Savate, with a preexisting Olympic heritage, might have a shot to get put back in, though it probably lacks a sufficient international base.   

Equestrian Vaulting

This one wasn't on my original list until I read a great article on Cracked.com that mentioned it. So, hey, let's make this an official movement: bring Equestrian Vaulting back to the Olympics!

Not to be confused with field jumping events, vaulting is a form of gymnastics, performed on the back of a moving horse. It made an appearance in the Antwerp Games of 1920. 

How it failed to stick around is a beyond me. This is truly an ancient, international sport. It's popular appeal for spectators can be clearly demonstrated by the fact that it is a staple of circuses and rodeos.

Look at it this way: Equestrian Dressage is an Olympic event. I'm not even sure how it qualifies as an actual sport. To me it seems like nothing more than some sort of horse fashion show event.

I just don't see who that appeals to, apart from horse-loving preteen girls and members of the one percent like Mitt and Ann Romney. I'm not saying remove it or anything. The more Olympic events the better, as far as I'm concerned. 

All I'm saying is that, if there's room for dressage, how on earth is there not room for vaulting, a breathtaking spectacle that requires extraordinary courage and agility? It's got the sort of thrills and excitement that can appeal to folks from every class and background, from any part of the world.  

Tug-of-War

Good, old fashioned tug-of-war—that staple of picnics and field days—was an Olympic event from 1900 to 1920. The fact that the IOC 86ed it is a travesty, long since overdue for redress.

I'm not kidding. Olympic tug-of-war would be awesome. As a test of physical strength, stamina and will power, it's hard to beat tug-of-war. Throw in the spectacle of the losing team getting yanked into a water-filled trench and you've got some legitimate athletic drama.

I have actually spent quite a bit of time thinking about how great this would be. In my dream Olympics, we would see one-person, two-person and five-person teams. Men and women would compete separately, but I could also envision mixed-gender teams taking the field, too.

I have some degree of hope that this could happen. Strongmen events and cross-fit training get more popular every year. Bringing back tug-of-war would give those athletes an entre into the Games.

In the meantime, a tug-of-war demo could be easily organized on the fly. Each nation could draft a team from their already competing athletes—the powerlifters, shot putters and heavyweight wrestlers.

After all the other events are done and just before the concluding ceremonies, dig a pit, fill it with water and let the big guys go at it.   

Basque Pelota

Basque Pelota, or Jai-alai, as it is known in most of the rest of the world, was a demonstration sport in 1924, 1960 and 1992. I find it absolutely amazing that the world had the opportunity to see this sport on three separate occasions and never demanded that it be retained.

This might be the most exciting sport in the world that doesn't involve anybody hitting or knocking over an opponent. And there is no need for physical contact between the players, because the ball itself provides all the thrilling and harrowing risk and excitement that any spectator could ever ask for.

We're talking about a ball that is denser than a baseball, traveling at speeds approaching 200 m.p.h. and careening off from walls at the most unpredictable of angles.

Listen, tennis is a terrific sport. And I've got no problem with badminton, either.

But compared to Basque Pelota? Well, there is no comparison. It's like comparing the Cub Scouts to the French Foreign Legion.

Basque Pelota does have some degree of an international presence. It might not currently have the kind of global popularity that a sport usually needs to get added, but I would argue that maybe this is a case where the IOC could get out ahead and help clue the rest of the world in to what they are missing.

We're talking about what might be the greatest ball sport ever invented, and I'm saying this as someone who is a huge baseball and football fan. An Olympic Games without Basque Pelota is like an oldies station never playing the Beatles.