Equestrian sport is safe for the coming (few) Olympics

[spotted_mustang]

I mean, watch THIS with the sound off and tell me it ain’t entertaining:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0820_sd_syb_hl_l1048

that’s the bizzarrest, funniest freak show at the olympics. I hope they keep it in. And yes, I think it’s a sport, because it’s difficult and very athletic.

[danceronice]

Difficult?!? That’s an understatement. I would have drowned somewhere around the 1:10 mark. And I’m trying to figure out how the heck they’re doing the head-down moves as they can’t touch bottom.

[nero]

I think that by and large the sports where the Olympics is the pinnacle of achievement should be the ones included, where the Olympic gold medal is the highest honour in the sport. This would ensure that those athletes attending the Games are the very best in the world and are trying their best to win a medal - that’s a win for the sport, a win for the audience/spectators and a win for the reputation of the Olympics. If a sport’s most coveted crown is outside the Olympics like Wimbeldon, The USA Open (golf), The World Series, The World Cup (which is why its good that Olympic soccer is under 25s) etc then it doesn’t make the Games. I mean does Roger Federer REALLY care about the Olympic Gold Medal so much if he’s going for the Grand Slam? Would Tiger want a gold more than a US PGA? Debatable.

But obviously there are many criteria that needs to be considered but this would be a good start.

But also we have to think about TV rights, it is these that make the IOC go around and so the Games must deliver to the TV market, hence beach volleyball and other ‘glamour’ sports that might no be so traditional. Is it hurting anyone to have all these sports included? Not really. (personally I think BMX is a bit too much and while I don’t really warm to sycn swimming I can just choose not to watch it)

I think though that an Olympic gold medal in equestrian is more coveted than WEG even though the courses are harder at WEG.

[vineyridge]

@Bats79;3472909

This would mean that ONLY the America’s don’t play hockey - pretty much an International sport then.

Rugby isn’t in the Olympics.

[MHM]

Ugh. Beach volleyball- please. :rolleyes:

[Coral]

Dressage isn’t the most boring of the Olympic sports, not even close. I spent some time watching some of the “off” sports on one of my HD channels and they were all pretty boring, I can understand why they weren’t on mainstream TV. I mean Archery? Really? Snooooorefest.

If you aren’t actively interested in them most of the Olympic sports are just painful to watch. I really think they did a great job this year because you could go see sports you were interested through the online coverage and people who weren’t interested don’t have to sit through hours of it. I think it’s fine if they get a few bread and butter sports to pay the bills with network coverage and the rest of us can enjoy our non-prime time sports too.

[Foxtrot_s]

I agree - the average American horse person cannot be called a sportsperson if they have only a narrow interest in sports. However, in some countries some of these fringe sports are very keenly followed, so we have to look at things from both sides. For the athletes involved, they have spent years of dedication and sacrifice working at the sports they love - each to their own. Even I, avid as I am about horses, find dressage gets a bit loooong. Also, not for us to criticise since we maybe can dabble in a sport, but not many of us will dare to become world class in it. The road is too long and too hard.

[BahamaMama]

[QUOTE=vineyridge;3473677]
Rugby isn’t in the Olympics. ;)[/QUOTE]

But the Rugby rules are different in every country.

[flyracing]

Just an FYI for people who have never touched a softball (or a baseball for that matter) before. The softballs used at the games were made by the same maker and with the same materials than the baseballs used at the games. Yes they are 12" balls instead of 9", but otherwise the only differences is the size, having a raised thread, and the color of the ball.

Also, because the olypic pitchers are pitching from a shorter distance the speed is equivalent to 90+ mph pitches in baseball. (softball players start pitching about 60 mph in the competitive 16 year old leagues and into the sevneties by the pro levels.

PS They do make softer softballs and baseballs for younger players and indoor practicing.

Also, BMX does not have a spot in extreme games, you are confusing BMX with the trick and stunt riding of the x games. Also, BMX is more popular in other countries than in ours (gasp!) and it is a very affordable sport for the host.

My sources: 9 years of fastpitch softball and 6 years working in the industry of bmx

[QUOTE=dogchushu;3472584]
Comparison of baseball and softball (Olympic softball is fast pitch):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_baseball_and_softball

It pretty much boils down to what MHM said: softball uses a bigger, softer ball that’s pitched underhanded. So you see much slower mph for the ball in softball. There are also only 7 innings (as opposed to 9 in baseball) and the infield (including distance to the pitching mound) is smaller. Plays in softball seem to take a bit longer, but the game doesn’t usually last much longer because there are fewer innings. Oh yeah. While getting hit with a softball still hurts like the dickens and causes a huge bruise, it’s not even close to getting hit with by a baseball! :lol:[/QUOTE]

[belambi]

rugby 7s will caerainly have a chance to get in in the near future…Its not in for London, but may well be helped by the fact that Rogge is an ex international rugby player.Its such a big game here and in the other pacific nations.Fiji is actually the current world champions.

Wheelchair rugby is in the paralympics .

[msrobin]

Golf to me is like watching cement sit. It is the most boring sport. Hit a ball then go after it then hit it again. Silly silly.
I will never get that stuff. I don’t see them as athletes the only thing they do is get a ball in a hole.

Dressage for me is exhilarating. I know what the riders are doing and how difficult it can be. That alone gives me goosebumps. I enjoy it immensely. Most people just do not understand dressage and what it is that is actually happening that makes it so great.