> Discarding modern pentathlon is still to be decided. It's been only
> recommended by the IOC program committee. We don't exactly know why.
The discussion on rec.sport.olympics also is astounded by this decision to
potentially eliminate a sport which not only has been included on the
Olympic program since 1912, but also, through its breadth of events shows
what a true sportsman is.
However, the reason as to why is based on logistics and spectator
friendliness. Modern Pentathlon has graciously (and more appropriately,
bent-over-backwards) in the past to reduce this event to a 1-day event to
support the spectator friendliness issue (and some of the logistics
issues), however, much to the detriment of the athletes and also changing
the entire tone of the competition. It is very sad that even though these
great concessions were made that Modern Pentthlon is still in jeopardy,
and it creates a point where we all have to pause and consider what has
become of the Olympic ideal and spirit (is it about sport, or is it about
money?).
As to the logistics issues, Modern Pentathlon is being subjected to the
logistic concerns of some of the individual sports of which it is
comprised (sort of guilt-by association). First, is the shooting event.
Individual shooting events are being subject to scrutiny as to how many
different events are needed, and possibly eliminating some of them.
Second, is the equestrain event. Transport, storage, and upkeep of the
horses are of logistical concern. The IOC should recognize the unique
aspect of Modern Pentathlon and not take their concerns of logistics of
the individual shooting and equestrain events and apply them to Modern
Pentathlon. The venue for the shooting events exists already for the
individual shooting events, and Modern Pentathlon is just using them, so
in fact, it is providing a better utilization rate for existing
facilities. Likewise, for the equestrain event, Modern Pentathlon is
also utilizing an existing venue for the equestrain event -- the prime
concern for elimination of the 3-day event from the individual equestrain
events has to do more with the terrain availabilty and the suitabilty of
that terrain in regards to safety (which, is only a concern due to the
selection of Bejing) -- Modern Pentathlon's equestrain event occurs in the
ring, so this concern is not applicable. Also, in the fencing, swimming
and running events Modern Pentathlon is utilizing venues that exist for
other events. Bottom line: Modern Pentathlon does not require any
additional special venue over and above those that already exist for other
individual events -- it is in fact, by its inclusion, providing a better
utilization rate for facilities -- a cost savings to the bottom line.
Doesn't anybody on the IOC understand business cases and what needs to be
done to make something come off cost efficiently? Perhaps they should get
me on the IOC committee so I can educate them
<g>
> It's has been suggested that pentathlon should be replaced by golf. Do
> you know who plays golf? Does it mean that if you have money you can
> have everything and discard a traditional sport embodying the very
> spirit of the Olympics?
This is the heart of the dilemma. Part of the IOC recommendation of
including golf is that if Tiger Woods and other professional golfers would
choose to participate -- this line of logic is seriously flawed and
contra-indicative of the IOC goals on logistics (and dare I say the
Olympic spirit?), and if somehow in their minds think that it will bring
in sponsor dollars, they are flawed again. Networks televise golf
tournaments because sponsors pay for the slow mode of a telecast and
exclusive rights during the telecast -- advertising dollars escalate
during the Olympics, and are for naught if viewers turn the TV set off
because they are bored by golf. If a network showed this during an
Olympics, the network would be bombarded with a negative viewer response
-- hasn't anybody on the IOC done any demographics of golf viewership in
relation to the total realm of sports offered in the Olympics? Also, I am
sure that many professional golfers would not be interested in competing
in the Olympics (hey, they make big bucks in tournaments -- why would they
play for free? Plus, if the IOC is concerned about logistics, do they
realize how large a golf course is?). I play golf, I enjoy golf, perhaps
sometimes I watch golf, but the majority of people in the world do not
find golf spectator friendly, in fact, the majority do not even understand
why golf is televised (I'll tell you the secret: the sponsors of the
tournament pay so much money to the tournaments -- that means that the
players get their cut and the network that televises it gets their cut).
There is so much downtime during a golf telecast that I am able to write a
technical specification for a computer application when watching it (hey,
I'm getting paid to work, and I get a diversion -- good deal for me).
> Ina Harizanova
Ina, I hope you would take my comments and use them to help lobby Modern
Pentathlon's continued inclusion. The business case is too strong for the
IOC to vote that Modern Pentathlon is excluded.
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