Olympic sports???

[Onelife]

I appreciate there is a certain skill level in skate boarding but should it fall into the category of an Olympic sport?

I’m starting to wonder if the ‘Olympics’ is being undermine by the inclusion of what to my mind are little more than fun hobbies. Skateboarding, Beach volleyball, BMX racing etc…what next…kite flying?...or am I just being a spoilsport?

[david63]

what next

Pole dancing

[Ranchi]

I guess Olympic events evolve over time …Alfred Hansel’s Gold in the 1928 Olympics being a case in point
I must admit I don’t really appreciate skateboarding (although I surprised myself by quite liking the snow boarding in the winter games.)
My main gripe so far this year has been to do with the scheduling. Eurosport seem to be offering about seven channels (up from the 2 we usually get with our package) but they haven’t always managed to put the scheduled sport on the correct channel making recording events through the night problematic.
BBC have limited coverage and seem to relish telling you the result before they broadcast the event e.g. Dan Walker announced the result of the high board synchro diving before it was broadcast -especially annoying as the event was really keenly contested.

[Kendhni]

Don't you dare dis beach volleyball

[Manoverboard]

We are recording BBC2's daily Highlights and skipping through the bits we are not particularly interested in ... skipping, now that's an idea.

[Onelife]

what next

Pole dancing

Ok…perhaps I was a little hasty with my comments

[Onelife]

BBC have limited coverage and seem to relish telling you the result before they broadcast the event e.g. Dan Walker announced the result of the high board synchro diving before it was broadcast -especially annoying as the event was really keenly contested.

I agree with you about the poor BBC coverage and trawling through different channels to find sports I'm interested in doesn’t make for relaxed viewing either.

[david63]

what next

Pole dancing

Ok…perhaps I was a little hasty with my comments

I have it on good authority that it is actually a branch of gymnastics and is under consideration for the Olympics in the future.

[towny44]

Pole dancing

Ok…perhaps I was a little hasty with my comments

I have it on good authority that it is actually a branch of gymnastics and is under consideration for the Olympics in the future.

Will the winner be the one with the most tenners stuck in her knickers?

[Esprit]

Skate boarding is an excellent addition.
It's no different kayaking. Arguably just someone trying to keep afloat, but it's been an Olympic sport for decades.
But don't get me onto dressage!

[oldbluefox]

I have enjoyed the Taekwondo, something I never knew anything about but I watched the street boarding or whatever it was called and was not impressed with that at all no matter how much the commentator tried to explain. It just didn't appeal at all although I would imagine the younger generation would appreciate the finer points. So it's a no from me.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Skate boarding is an excellent addition.
It's no different kayaking. Arguably just someone trying to keep afloat, but it's been an Olympic sport for decades.
But don't get me onto dressage!

Ah but we have a friend who is a multiple gold medal winner at the Paralympics in dressage.

[Bensham33]

I think the BBC coverage is superb. It's almost wall to wall Olympics on the Been.

Skate Boarding is for the younger generation, trying to get them interested in a sport. Can't be a bad thing.

Synchronised swimming on the other hand, you are having a larffff

[oldbluefox]

Now I quite like the synchronised swimming because it is so clever what they do especially considering most of it is done underwater.

Not a fan of the dressage, partly because I don't understand it, partly because it doesn't appeal as a spectator sport and partly because I'm not that keen on horses. However nobody can deny the levels of skill needed nor the relationship which exists between rider and horse.

The skateboarding I saw the other day just left me cold.

[Esprit]

So playing devil's advocate.
Horses are trained and ridden for those Olympic competitions. So why not include Dolphins? I'd watch them carrying their trainers across water on their backs and jumping through hoops!

[oldbluefox]

Are you offering?

[Stephen]

I was watching the synchronised high diving this morning. They are so close to the board when spinning. Hit that and it’s game over I would imagine. In fact if they get too close they get penalised.

[Ranchi]

Greg Louganis did exactly that in the 1988 Olympics. He was lucky and went on to win gold for US. I dislike watching inward dives.
On a lighter note, I always get confused with the overhead camera in the swimming events especially if I supporting a swimmer in lane 3 or lane 6. They are on the right of the centre lanes going one way and on the left going the other. I understand it...but it gets me every time.

[Onelife]

So playing devil's advocate.
Horses are trained and ridden for those Olympic competitions. So why not include Dolphins? I'd watch them carrying their trainers across water on their backs and jumping through hoops!

Dolphins don't travel well out of water?

[Kendhni]

They were also trained to find and locate enemy mines or carry mines to sink any marine craft.
Can you just imagine it the dolphins got together and decided to wreak merry havoc at the Olympics

[Mervyn and Trish]

But just watch out if the Trojans decide to enter the Dressage.....

[Ranchi]

Am enjoying Katherine Grainger and Mark Foster in the Olympic swimming reports. It’s good to have knowledgeable, experience athletes who speak well. It’s certainly a welcome change from the normal formulaic presenters who always seem to need to focus on the back story. Swimming performance so far has been very good (& how much funding did they get?) There had been very little mention of the swimmers in the media before Tokyo and I think this may have worked to their advantage. Hopefully funding for swimming will return future.
Caught some of the sailing yesterday…that’s a rough sport! Enjoyable to watch.

[screwy]

What the hell is Softball about.? Total waste of time.

[Stephen]

What the hell is Softball about.? Total waste of time.

They'll be having tiddlywinks next as an Olympic sport.

Watched some of the athletes on the bars earlier. Impressive stuff. Reminded me of me......down the pub

[Ranchi]

So pleased to report that the verb ‘to podium’ has gone out of favour this year - not sure if this is due to sporting prowess of linguistic skill.
This year’s word of the minute appears to be ‘brutal’. Starting to grate already.