Olympic Information sure to annoy you

Mo · 08-12-2002 11:21 PM

<a href="http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/recognized/index_uk.asp" target="_blank">http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/recognized/index_uk.asp</a>
Go to this website and see all the "new sports" the IOC is recognizing.
Be sure to note the events like, "tug of war" (no kidding!!!)
Read the propaganda about how "Olympism is a state of mind based on equality of sports which are international and democratic."

I guess Women's Saber and adding legit sports is just not as good as say, Automobile Grand Prix or tug of war.
No room for the IOC to add two medals to the Olympics for fencing, perfectly understandable.
Anyone know if that is grounds for a lawsuit??

**veeco** · 08-13-2002 12:28 AM

There is quite a difference between having a sport recognized by the IOC and having that sport actually part of the program of the olympics, if I understand correctly.

Basically having a sport recognized by the IOC basically means: "yes we know you exist and we think that what you do fits our definition of sport".

I don't see why "tug of war" wouldn't fit the definition of sport for anyone. Now having bridge and chess being recognized as sports, that's another matter (and I am quite avid chess player myself).

There are actually some interesting discussions about this (chess) on the rec.sport.olympics newsgroup.

Anyway, I guess all I wanted to say was that you should not expect to see tug of war on the olympic program anytime soon.

**Zelda** · 08-13-2002 03:51 AM

What #@!$ is Korfball?

**counter riposte** · 08-13-2002 07:28 AM

From the International Korfball Federation website: (No I seriously couldn't believe it either.)

The Name of the Game
Korfball is a game for everyone. Men and women of all ages can play. Korfball is played on every continent, with the exception of the Antarctic. Korfball can be played indoors as well as outdoors. And you don’t need expensive equipment to play the game.
The first thing you need is a pitch (court), divided into two halves called zones. Add two korfball posts (3.5m, shorter for the young), two baskets, one ball and two teams of eight players: two men and two women of each team in each zone (attack and defence). With one referee the game is ready to start.

Korfball: the aim of the game.
The game is fairly simple. You score when you throw the ball through the other team’s basket. After two goals the teams change zones: the defenders become attackers and attackers defenders. At half-time the teams change sides.
As long as you keep its philosophy in mind, all rules turn out to be straightforward. What, then, is its philosophy?

First and foremost, korfball is a team sport. Individual class is essential but there is no room for individual play. Belonging to a team means teamwork; running with the ball or dribbling is not allowed. If you receive the ball while running, stop and pass, preferably to a member of your team!

Second, korfball is a mixed sport. Men and women play side by side. But while women are equal in the tactics of the game, while playing it’s man to man only. One man may guard one man and one woman may guard one woman. So it’s not two against one and a woman may not defend a man nor may a man defend a woman.

Third, korfball is a tactical game. Each party tries to win by scoring more goals using tactical skills of the team as a whole. The rules follow this adagio and prevent physical strength from dominating the game. That means that physical contact is undesired. Blocking, tackling and holding your opponent are not allowed in korfball. The same goes for kicking the ball or hitting it with your fists. Remember, skills are important, not muscles. And while we’re at it, keep your hands of the korfball post: scoring is difficult enough without someone pushing the post.

Now what else makes this game different? First, each team must have four women and four men, single sex teams are not allowed. Second, do not attempt to score when defended. That occurs when the defender is closer to the basket and is facing his/her opponent, and is at arm’s length, and is attempting to block the ball.

**counter riposte** · 08-13-2002 07:35 AM

Among other sports that annoy me...

Wushu- Oriental Marial Arts

Orienteering- we put you in the middle of nowhere with a compass and tell you to find your way out. (Sport owes its compliments to "Survivor")

And of course Korfball- Basketball with the net in the middle of the court instead of either side.

Now, how each of these sports has gotten a following amazes me. Yet, there is no space for two more medals in fencing! A sport that has been around since the first modern olympics!

**D'Artagnan1673** · 08-13-2002 07:43 AM

Its pretty pathetic, no doubt about it!

**135711** · 08-13-2002 03:01 PM

thanks for the link, i'm going to save it, the tug of war was rather depressing, however, i searched for my fencing coach, and found him 1956, mens saber team.

**shyHeidi** · 08-13-2002 11:34 PM

squash? life saving? what is this stuff?

**three_hundred_fifty_five** · 08-14-2002 04:16 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Mo:
...Anyone know if that is grounds for a lawsuit??<hr /></blockquote>No, it is not grounds for a lawsuit against the IOC.

**veeco** · 08-14-2002 12:34 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by shyHeidi:
squash? life saving? what is this stuff?<hr /></blockquote>Squash is kinda like racquetball with different rules. But basically it's the same idea. You are stuck into a room with a racquet, a squishy ball, and someone armed with a racquet. The object of the game is to send the ball on the wall in front of you and prevent the other person from sending that ball to the wall again. It's probably one of the most tiring and cardiovascular intensive sports that I know of. You expense a LOT of calories playing squash!

**JEC** · 08-14-2002 06:01 PM

Agree with Veeco. It's quite similar but better than its later derivation, racquetball.

**MikeHarm** · 08-14-2002 09:11 PM

I don't think they've hit the bottom yet, they still haven't added playing video games or robot fighting to the olympics yet.

**SäbelFechter** · 08-14-2002 09:13 PM

Actually, in some of the first Olympics after they were revived in 1896, they did give out medals in tug-of-war.

Tug-of-war was on the Olympic programme in 1900, 1904, 1906 (Intercalated Games), 1908, 1912 and 1920. Tug-of-war was always contested as a part of the track and field athletics programme, although it is now considered a separate sport. The Olympic champions were as follows: 1900: a combined Swedish/Danish team; 1904: an American club team representing the Milwaukee Athletic Club; 1906: Germany/Switzerland; 1908: a British team from the City of London Police Club; 1912: Sweden; and 1920: Great Britain.

In the past, they have also given out medals for:

Cricket
Power boating
Croquet
Rackets
Golf
Rink-hockey
Jeu de paume
Roque
Lacrosse
Rugby
Pelote basque
Polo
Water skiing

[ 08-15-2002, 01:20 AM: Message edited by: SäbelFechter ]

**Gav** · 08-14-2002 09:20 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr /> I don't think they've hit the bottom yet, they still haven't added playing video games or robot fighting to the olympics yet. <hr /></blockquote>Thankfully, although I for one would love to see giant Mecha (robots for those who may be wondering) fighting as an Olympic sport or even... Giant Mecha Fencing!!! (I think sleep deprivation is making me silly - I need to go lie down...)

[ 08-15-2002, 01:24 AM: Message edited by: Gav ]

**mfp** · 08-15-2002 01:57 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by shyHeidi:
squash? life saving? what is this stuff?<hr /></blockquote>Squash is a useful sport to fencers. Not the necessarily the game itself (unless your knees have a deathwish), but "squash shoes" are pretty decent for fencing even if they aren't asymmetrical and even if some brands look like bowling shoes.

But why are people getting their underwear in a bunch over this? As has been pointed out, the IOC provisionally recognizing various sports' federations simply means the federations pledge to conform with the Olympic charter -- not that they necessarily have any hope of being added to the Olympics. It's not like tug-of-war or Sepak Takraw are on the fast track to 2004.

<a href="http://www.geocities.co.jp/Colosseum-Acropolis/2678/english/whatsepa.html" target="_blank">http://www.geocities.co.jp/Colosseum-Acropolis/2678/english/whatsepa.html</a>

**135711** · 08-18-2002 04:05 PM

you know what's even nicer? badmitton. it's lively, keeps you moving, you build up a great deal of endurance and a great touch for the birdie, which is weirdly balanced. once you've played a strong game of badmitton, you'll improve your fencing, it's faster than tennis.

**nahouw** · 08-20-2002 07:41 PM

just for the record, squash is played with a hard ball and a smaller racquet as opposed to racquetball. And I believe that racquetball can be played on a squash court, but the reverse is not true. I don't know what the differences there are in the rules, for I have only played racquetball.

**Blade** · 08-20-2002 08:55 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by SäbelFechter:
Actually, in some of the first Olympics after they were revived in 1896, they did give out medals in tug-of-war.

Tug-of-war was on the Olympic programme in 1900, 1904, 1906 (Intercalated Games), 1908, 1912 and 1920. Tug-of-war was always contested as a part of the track and field athletics programme, although it is now considered a separate sport. The Olympic champions were as follows: 1900: a combined Swedish/Danish team; 1904: an American club team representing the Milwaukee Athletic Club; 1906: Germany/Switzerland; 1908: a British team from the City of London Police Club; 1912: Sweden; and 1920: Great Britain.

In the past, they have also given out medals for:

Cricket
Power boating
Croquet
Rackets
Golf
Rink-hockey
Jeu de paume
Roque
Lacrosse
Rugby
Pelote basque
Polo
Water skiing<hr /></blockquote>Nothing wrong with medals going out for Polo, Water skiing, Rugby, Lacrosse and Cricket

but I can't say I have a clue what half those others are like Roque, Pelote basque, Jeu de paume are but as for the rest of them, you've got to be kidding.

And as for Racquet ball? What's that? At least I know what Squash is.

**Peach** · 08-21-2002 05:50 AM

Wasn't "jeu de paume" tennis?

**darius** · 08-21-2002 07:13 AM

Yes. It was originally "Jeu de Pomme", but that was prohibitively messy.

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