coolangatta

I think not. It's likely to be included next time.
Why not darts, pool and dominoes next so we can be gold medalists while having a few pints

darts_aint_sport

Indeed!
Golf barely passes as a sport in my book, let alone an Olympic sport!

HankScorpio

Get golf, darts, snooker, pool in there and get rid of anything where "artistic merit" makes up any part of the score.

coolangatta

I kind of get what you're saying. I hate the events where judges decide the scores. Problem is that gymnasts are probably the ultimate athletes. How can we judge how good they are Traditional gymnastic events like floor, bars, horse, rings etc don't lend themselves to true competition.

GC8

Theyll be having f*cking darts next!

Iain Young

Is golf any less an olympic sport than beach volleyball, sailing, or bmx riding though?

Personally I'd ban the lot

Iain Young

So what. How is darts any different to javelin? You could argue that darts requires more skill as you actually have to aim the things instead of just chucking them as hard as you can

Leslie

Don't forget fishing of course !

Les

HankScorpio

I was having this exact discussion yesterday.

Sports results have to absolute, there can be no judgement involved in the result.

If you go back to cave man days when the competition would have been how far, how fast, how high, how close, there's no room for how pretty.

dpb

I tend think of sport in the olympic sense as involvung some form of physical exercise i must say ,

trudging up hill to the next hole hardly cuts it in my book ..!

coolangatta

Yes, without a shred of doubt volleyball (in all formats) and BMX are sports.
Sailing hmmmm Nope.

dpb

lol you try keeping a finn upright for a cople of hours, whilst wearing a weight-jacket

- it fairly strenuous i can assure you

coolangatta

I understand it's a skilful and strenuous activity.
So is F1 and WRC rallying. You don't advocate motorsports as olympic events do you?

dpb

Id say motorsports take less muscle strength

speedymonkey

I think they should make paintball an Olympic sport

Now that would be good to watch, especially England vs. Germany



You read it here first

coolangatta

I think elite drivers (Hamilton, Loeb etc) are very fit/strong. Don't you?
However, it does not qualify their sport as an olympic sport IMO.
By the same measure sailing should not qualify.

As far as golf is concerned; many elite sportsmen play golf in their 'off time' as relaxation. It's a game for fun and relaxation.

jonc

I'm for cheese rolling and shin kicking to be made into an olympic sport.

Leslie

Now you are talking!

les

coolangatta

I'm for cheese eating and wine tasting. We can kick the shins of the losers

fitzscoob

During the last major out in America they were posing the same question to the pros. The general consensus is that you wouldnt be able to.

I personally dont think it would work and would not like to see the sport of golf included. I play a lot of golf myself, its just not the right sporting event for the games.

P1Fanatic

I was the same when the mrs watch Equestrian Dressage - I was like how can someone accurately judge after a 5+ min session. At least with showjumping they either make the jump or they dont.

What about boxing though? Thats one hell of a tough sport and still requires a judge or 3.

As for golf - there are plenty of sports already included that are less strenuous imho. The thing I like about the Olympics is that I watch sports I normally wouldnt bother with.

Simon

hoskib

iTrader: (1)

agree 100%, i like to play and watch golf but it's not got a place in olympics. personally don't think bmx or football should be in there either, but hey-ho.

waste of time with the golf, the big boys wouldn't really be interested. it's hard enough to get the yanks excited about the ryder cup!

Account deleted by request

My opinion for what its worth is that to win an Olympic Gold should be the pinacle of a sport. ie; for 100 meter sprint you can win no better than an Olympic gold. The problem with sports like golf and say football is the olympic gold would not be the pinacle. A major in golf would mean more, same as the world cup or champions league means more in football.

For me the attraction of the olympic games is lesser known sports/competitors have there moment in the limelight at trying to be the very best at their sport, something that they have worked so hard to win. ie redgrave/pinsent and the majority of the winners this year.

If golf was included it would be treated as just another competition and that devalues the games IMHO

chop

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

Well - if you want to see weird sports that have been included in the Olympic games:

and please note GOLF was in the Games back in 1900, 1904

EVENT PARTICIPATING YEARS
Track and Field

60m dash
1900, 1904

5 mile run
1906, 1908

200m Hurdles
1900, 1904

Steeplechase
1900 (2500m & 4000m), 1904 (2590m), 1908 (3200m)

3000m Team run (4 mile)
1908, 1912, 1920, 1924

Cross Country (individual)
1912 (8000m), 1920 (10000m),
1924 (10650m)

Cross Country (team)
1900 (5000m), 1904 (6437m), 1912 (8000m), 1920 (10000m), 1924 (10650m)

Walking
1906 (1500m), 1920 (3000m), 1908 (3500m) 1908 (10mile)

10000m Walk
1912, 1920, 1924, 1948, 1952

Standing High Jump
1900, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1912

Standing Broad Jump
1900, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1912

Standing Hop, Step, Jump
1900, 1904

16lb Shot Put (2 Hands)
1912

56lb Weight Throw
1904, 1920

Stone Throw (~6kg) 1906
Discus (Greek or Classic style)
1906, 1908

Discus (2 Hands)
1912

Javelin (Freestyle)
1908

Javelin (2 Hands)
1912

Triathlon (long jump, shot put, 100 yards) 1904
Pentathlon
1906, 1912, 1920, 1924

Tug-of-War
1900, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1912, 1920

Cycling:

Events coverted to metric
1904 (440yrds/0ne-third mile/ 880yrd/one mile) 1906 (660yrd)

Events discontinued
1906, 1908 (5km) 1906 (10km) 1906, 1908 (20km) 1920, 1924 (50km) 1896, 1908 (100km) 1896 (12hr race)

Gymnastics

Team (Swedish System)
1912, 1920

Team (Free System)
1912, 1920

Team (Horizontal Bars)
1896

Team (Parallel Bars)
1896

Club Swinging 1904
Indian Club Mixed Event 1932
Rope Climb
1896, 1904, 1906, 1924, 1932

Side/Sidehorse vault Mixed Event 1924
Tumbling
1932

Triathlon 1904
Combined 4 events 1904
Swimming

Relay Races
1900, 1904, 1906

100m Freestyle for Sailors 1896
200m Freestyle
1900, 1904 (200yrd freestyle)

400m Breaststroke
1904, 1912, 1920

880yrd & 50yrd Freestyle
1904

4000m Freestyle
1900

Solo Synchronized Swimming 1984, 1988, 1992
Plunge (Diving)
1904

Underwater
1900

Obstacle race
1900

Plain High Diving
1912, 1920, 1924

Weightlifting

One Hand
1896, 1904, 1906

Two Hands 1896, 1904, 1906
All Round Dumbell Contest
1904

Shooting
Dueling Pistol 1906
Live Pigeon Shooting 1900
other Shooting events:
Mixed Pistol, Revolver, Automatic Pistol, Army Gun, Full-Bore Rifle, Running Deer, Small-Bore Rifle, Free Rifle, Military Rifle.
1896, 1900, 1908, 1912, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1936

Yachting:

6m Class
1900, 1908, 1912, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952

6.5m Class
1920

7m Class
1908, 1920

8m Class
1900, 1908, 1912, 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936

10m Class
1900, 1912, 1920

12m Class
1908, 1912, 1920, 1956

Firefly Class
1948

Monotype Class
1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936

30m Class
1920

40m Class
1920

18-Foot Centerboard
1920

Rowing
17-Man Naval Rowing Boats 1906
various (inrigger fours, plus many more) 1900 +
Equestrian

Vaulting, team & individual 1920
High jump 1900
Long jump 1900
Other sports or events
Archery: Various events
1900, 1904, 1908, 1920

Canoeing: Various events
1936, 1948, 1952,1956

Cricket
1900

Croquet
1900

Basque Pelota 1900
Fencing: Sword and Sabre
1904, 1906

Field Handball:
1936

Golf: (Men's)
1900, 1904

Golf: (Women's)
1900

Lacrosse
1904, 1908

Motor Boating
1908

Jeu de Paume
1908

Racquets (Mens)
1908

Polo
1900, 1908, 1920, 1924, 1936

Roque (Like Croquet)
1904

Rugby Union
1900, 1908, 1920, 1924

Gav

Golf IS a sport but it should not be in the Olympics. The players wouldnt give a toss about it and you'd end up with the top players not playing and "lesser" pros playing who no-ones heard of and therefore has no interest

Iain Young

Ah, much like olympic football / tennis then

Still don't understand why darts isn't in there. They already have javelin, archery, shooting etc, so surely it's no different.

I'm voting for olympic bog swimming / snorkeling for 2012

0Bog Snorkelling - Llanwrtyd Wells(Coming Events)
2006 SPMK Bog Snorkelling Championships Winner

dpb

At least theres exertion required

hoskib

iTrader: (1)

can't see an olympic england/GB football team caring less than the ***** on show the other night

******* ponces, you watch them run themselves ragged for their club.........sorry massive paypacket this weekend. bloody disgrace

sorry, went slightly off topic there didn't i?

P1Fanatic

Erm Nadal won the tennis.....

Simon

moff1888

Darts/javelin...Javel-darts if you like. Javelin as per but with a dart board layout in the throw zone which can add bonus points.

2 birds 1 stone.