AHC:Alternate Olympic Sports.

The Professor · Jul 31, 2012

Osakadave said:
I'd like to see orienteering, rogaining, and trail running. Of those, orienteering has the best chance, particularly "sprint" and ski-orienteering, the latter of which has been a demonstration sport.

(Emphasis added)
Olympic Hair Restoration?

I'm surprised squash isn't back this year - thought we'd have a few GB Olympians for that.

Anything really novel rather than just variations of existing sports?
Live Chess?
Assault courses?

d32123 · Jul 31, 2012

I'd love to see ultimate at the Olympics.

MattII · Jul 31, 2012

d32123 said:
South Africa has competed in both World Baseball Classics.

And yet they have no official League. And even if they did, that's still very low participation from a whole continent.

PulkitNahata · Jul 31, 2012

Lets say India takes the place of China in the world but at an earlier stage. Also in 1936 the sport of Kabaddi was demonstrated by the Indians. So with India and the Soviet Union being close in the 1960s, the sport spreads to Eastern Europe and is already in South Asia. In 1980 Seoul (Butterflies) olympics it becomes a demonstration event and in 1984 Istanbul is again a demonstration event and is added as a medal event the 1992 Milan Olympics.

Osakadave · Jul 31, 2012

The Professor said:
(Emphasis added)
Olympic Hair Restoration?

I'm surprised squash isn't back this year - thought we'd have a few GB Olympians for that.

Anything really novel rather than just variations of existing sports?
Live Chess?
Assault courses?

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogaining

Chess boxing would be even better.

I do think both chess and go/wei chi/baduk would be good additions. I remember hearing some talk that wei chi might be an exhibition sport in 2008, but was dissapointed.

mowque · Jul 31, 2012

Frisbee...anyway to 'sportize' that game?

Lemon flavoured · Jul 31, 2012

mowque said:
Frisbee...anyway to 'sportize' that game?

It was already mentioned, but there already is a sport based on it.

It doesn't use the name Frisbee any more though because that's trademarked.

Enigmajones · Jul 31, 2012

Marius said:
How many countries would be competitive?

Maybe the US and Canada.

Ain't going to happen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football_at_the_1932_Summer_Olympics

It remained for a spectacle listed on the program as 'American Football' to provide the Tenth Olympiad with its greatest thrill to date. Chances are the game will become an international pastime before the memory of this night game dies away.

Now first off, Canada has American Football players, but Canadian Football has major differences with American Football, and unless a compromise code could be found, it would most likely just be American Football. As to who would compete? Let me put it this way, the United States didn't always have a professional soccer league. Mexico, Japan, Germany, Australia and the United Kingdom have players and leagues.

Also I may add, that Rugby, has so little competition its not even funny. Sevens is pretty fun to watch, and will be interesting to see in 2016, but Football is just as fun to watch and would be great to see supported in its spread.

bsmart111 · Jul 31, 2012

If you are going to include Chess what about Dominoes and Poker?

unclepatrick · Jul 31, 2012

d32123 said:
Rugby and cricket are only popular in areas of heavy historical British influence.

Rugby was a Olympic event in the early Olympics. I remember a PE teacher in high school who claimed that Rugby was created in Wales because the British made Manslaughter illegal.

Osakadave · Jul 31, 2012

bsmart111 said:
If you are going to include Chess what about Dominoes and Poker?

Chess isn't a game of chance.

MattII · Jul 31, 2012

And in show jumping it's the horse doing the work.

RGB · Jul 31, 2012

Krall said:
Jousting. Because it's awesome.

Absolutely this. Awesomest thing ever. Impractical as all heck though, but man.

I'd also go for horse archery as someone mentioned. Again, no real pool of talent to draw from but man it would be awesome. And tough to be consistent in.

Enigmajones said:
Also I may add, that Rugby, has so little competition its not even funny. Sevens is pretty fun to watch, and will be interesting to see in 2016, but Football is just as fun to watch and would be great to see supported in its spread.

That's just disingenuous when talking about American Football in the same breath. Rugby has six solid contenders (Aus, SAF, NZ, Fra, UK, Wales) and a dozen competitive national teams. American Football has ONE. As for the bolded part, mileage may vary, and I personally find it unwatchable.

Rugby allows for smaller players, less specialists, and way way less infrastructure investment. It requires way less time to play. It's suitable to world audiences who like a game with constant pace. It's basically more suited to be a world sport by a several light-years, but it's still not very popular even so. American Football is just not even a contender if Rugby isn't.

MattII · Jul 31, 2012

RGB said:
I'd also go for horse archery as someone mentioned. Again, no real pool of talent to draw from but man it would be awesome. And tough to be consistent in.

Thanks. I just figured it as a sort of summer-equivalent to the Biathlon, while still being unique.

Oh, and maybe a modern equivalent of the hoplitodromos, aka racing while carrying weights (say 1/10 and 1/5 of the body weight, over various distances).

Also, is this discussion restricted to the summer games, or can we include suggestions for winter games as well?

Chipperback · Jul 31, 2012

Sports I'd like to see in the Olympic program

1. StripperSports (Pole Dancing)....It would be the most attended event in the games..It could judged like gymnastics

2. "The Superstars Obstacle Course" -- Bring back a piece of one of the best sports reality shows ever.

3. Roller Hockey

4. Rugby Sevens

5. Rallying -- If there is something a way motorsports could get in the Olympics...this is the one.

6. Demolition Derby -- Every country in the world makes old clunkers...Lets put 'em to use

7. Laser Tag

8. Dodgeball

9. Capture The Flag

10. Cross Country Running.

Osakadave · Jul 31, 2012

MattII said:
And in show jumping it's the horse doing the work.

Indeed.

Anywho, this has turned into a chat thread on what sports we want included, rather than the AHC of the OP.

naraht said:
With a POD after 1900, pick a sport not currently in the Olympics (or one which has been dropped) and explain why it is in the 2012 Olympics. For example, a Nazi victory might make one of the Exhibition sports in the 1936 Olympics (Art, Baseball, or Gliding) permanent.

An Axis victory would likely see kendo included, as well. Maybe some variations on military sports. It may also be a way in for go, as Japanese influance spreads.

naraht · Jul 31, 2012

MattII said:
Thanks. I just figured it as a sort of summer-equivalent to the Biathlon, while still being unique.

Oh, and maybe a modern equivalent of the hoplitodromos, aka racing while carrying weights (say 1/10 and 1/5 of the body weight, over various distances).

Also, is this discussion restricted to the summer games, or can we include suggestions for winter games as well?

OP here: Winter games are just fine!

Styrofoam Boots · Jul 31, 2012

Chipperback said:
8. Dodgeball

I would love a more popular dodgeball. The 6 on 6 kind, not the chaos from middle school P.E.

Screvier20 · Jul 31, 2012

Sports I would like see added or return to the Olympic

1. Baseball

2. Softball

3. Tug Of War

4. Dodgeball

5. Ten-pin bowling

6. Cricket

7. Lacrosse

8. Pankration

9. Billiards

10. Sepak takraw

thepenguin · Jul 31, 2012

Ten-pin Bowling especially. I did it throughout high school. Everybody likes to say it's easy, but try to hit your target board on every shot and also figure out how many boards to move left or right when the oil pattern breaks down (didn't happen much for me, I'm a southpaw).