Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

Pauli · 07-08-2005, 12:56 PM

This has been decided today by the Olympic Comittee. Also, these sports will not be replaced by any other - apparently (I wasn't aware of it), inline skating had put in the request to be considered an Olympic Sport. This request was declined.

As Baseball/Softball are, especially for the Americans, important disciplines, I wonder what you all think of it.

melihop · 07-08-2005, 02:38 PM

Baseball is seen so much outside of the olimpics i think that this is a good idea. I like that the olimpics expose more people to the less common sports. Most people have never seen as much fencing.. or iceskating, or most other sports, as they will see of baseball.

Larrison · 07-08-2005, 04:47 PM

*shrugs* Baseball in the Olympics? Hmm.. they get none of the real high level players from the professional leagues in the Olympics so the games are not really high caliber. Mostly it seems its a recruiting demonstration for the major league teams to watch players from Cuba, Honduras, Japan, etc.... I'm not heartbroken about it not being in the Olympics. I'm more upset that Toronto is losing its team...

And Softball? Softball is supposed to be played with a beer in your hand... which the Olympics won't let you do. (Beach volleyball is supposed to be played that way too... )

esskreemr · 07-10-2005, 10:51 PM

There's appears to be a non-event here in the U.S. I don't have tv anymore so I could be wrong, but most people I've talked to aren't bothered by it at all. I'm not sure about the hard-core baseball fans, but most don't seem to be that bothered by it.

esskreemr · 07-10-2005, 10:54 PM

Interesting (well, at least to me). Here is a list of sports recognized by the IOC:
Air sports
Netball
Bandy
Orienteering
Billiard Sports
Pelote Basque
Boules
Polo
Bowling
Powerboating
Bridge
Racquetball
Chess
Roller Sports
DanceSport
Rugby
Golf
Squash
Karate
Surfing
Korfball
Sumo
Life Saving
Tug of War
Motorcycle Racing
Underwater Sports
Mountaineering and Climbing
Water Skiing
Wushu

prototoast · 07-10-2005, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esskreemr

I'm not sure about the hard-core baseball fans, but most don't seem to be that bothered by it.

Why would any hardcore baseball fan care about the Olympics? There are multiple leagues in the United States that compete at a higher level, and in the limited timeframe of the olympics.
In particular, Olympic baseball statistics are meaningless.

KD5MDK · 07-11-2005, 05:27 AM

The US dominated Softball so much is really was pointless to have it as a competition.

Iwant2bafencer · 07-12-2005, 03:00 AM

Softball is Just as hard as Baseball. There is Very little difference in the two sports. The major thing is one is played by women, and the other men.

It's sad that they've been taken out but they're definately not as widely played around the world as most of the others.

The question is, if this should cause a chain reaction and they take out more and more sports that they decide aren't fit, will this be a good thing in that they may turn the Olympics back to human strength.
Or will it be a bad thing for whichever reason you decide on?

Inquartata · 07-12-2005, 04:37 PM

Well---not only were baseball/softball not played widely enough around the world, they require construction of special facilities. Large, fairly expensive ones, which in most countries will get little use after the Olympics are over. Cost was probably a big factor in the decision.

Fortunately, this is not a problem from which fencing suffers. All one needs is a good-sized hall with a decent floor. Multiple-use halls are perfectly acceptable...

esskreemr · 07-12-2005, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iwant2bafencer

Softball is Just as hard as Baseball. There is Very little difference in the two sports. The major thing is one is played by women, and the other men.

It's sad that they've been taken out but they're definately not as widely played around the world as most of the others.

The question is, if this should cause a chain reaction and they take out more and more sports that they decide aren't fit, will this be a good thing in that they may turn the Olympics back to human strength.
Or will it be a bad thing for whichever reason you decide on?

I think it would be fun to have a core of about 25 sports. Leave 2 or 3 open for the host country to choose (within certain limitations) sports to fill. This would allow for the display of local popular sports. I'm sure something like this would never fly, but it used to be that the host country chose all the sports. This is why the fact that fencing is one of only 4 sports to have been contested in every modern Olympic game is quite amazing.

Iwant2bafencer · 07-12-2005, 10:09 PM

Inquartata, that's definately true, they are quite expensive but then again so are the hockey/ice skating rinks. However, now with mentioning that, it could spur the whole 'well if this and that is too expensive, then that and this should go too.'
I agree though, the diamonds would be harder to find uses for.

Esskreemr, I definately like the idea of allowing for 1 or 2 sports for the host to decide but at the same time, that could be considered an unfair advantage.

Inquartata · 07-13-2005, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iwant2bafencer

Inquartata, that's definately true, they are quite expensive but then again so are the hockey/ice skating rinks.

Yes. And in fact I think that's why they have soooooo many swimming and diving events: they're trying to justify the costs of those aquatic centers.

Then there are the velodromes. Oof.

Iwant2bafencer · 07-13-2005, 12:54 PM

Yeah, those definately add up too. Perhaps thats why the greeks made all of their events so similar to each other, so they only needed one building.
Could you imagine some of the sports we have today sharing the same building?