Foo - What makes a sport an Olympic sport?

Motocross is the second most physically demanding sport on the planet, yet it's not represented in the Olympics. Is it because the Olympics should only include human powered events? If that's the case, sailing should be out...Is it because it has a motor? I would think a sport that's so physically demanding would trump it's power source.

I'm not advocating Mx being in the Olympics, but I'm just wondering what makes an Olympic sport and where should the line be drawn?

Actually motorcycle racing is a recognized sport.

http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/recognized/index_uk.asp

Wait, lifesaving is a sport?!? I'd hate to see the competitions for that one :twitchy:

I heard, yesterday, that someone was trying to get computer gaming included in the olympics............

Wait, lifesaving is a sport?!? I'd hate to see the competitions for that one :twitchy:

Oh you poor boy! You've missed out. I can't surf, run, paddle a boat but it is great to watch, especially the womens events.:D They don't actually have to save a live person in the competitions. It involves races out from the beach, through the surf, around a course and back to the beach with a run or so the sand. The race surf-skis, eight person rowboats and just swimming. I hate to admit it but Australia tends to do very well in all the surf-lifesaving competitions.

I heard, yesterday, that someone was trying to get computer gaming included in the olympics............

Will it be divided into weight classes?

Wait, lifesaving is a sport?!? I'd hate to see the competitions for that one :twitchy:

Such things at least used to be big in OZ. Most are simply races using the traditional devices of rescuing someone from the surf. Actually some of the boat based races can be pretty exciting as not all boats make it through the surf. Actually rather cool as it is like a car race crash but rarely with injuries.

I think they had some where tehy would actually bring in a 'drowning' person. Whti the Olympic spirit of win at all costs those might have some problems.

I heard, yesterday, that someone was trying to get computer gaming included in the olympics............

I'm not an advocate, but the IOC has made it known that they may include e-Sports in London. They've also included gamers (http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2008/04/20/pro-gamers-to-bear-olympic-torch-to-represent-e-sports) in the Beijing games.


Will it be divided into weight classes?

=/

This (http://www.gotfrag.com/cs/story/41084/?spage=4) and this (http://www.gotfrag.com/css/story/41185/) > your face.

Motocross is the second most physically demanding sport on the planet, yet it's not represented in the Olympics. Is it because the Olympics should only include human powered events? If that's the case, sailing should be out...Is it because it has a motor? I would think a sport that's so physically demanding would trump it's power source.

I'm not advocating Mx being in the Olympics, but I'm just wondering what makes an Olympic sport and where should the line be drawn?

Actually the line is usually political. Though some of the considerations is how many countries compete in it at a top level, are het facilities either readilly available or at least provide something if built and of course if they can fill a venue with paying customers.

I heard, yesterday, that someone was trying to get computer gaming included in the olympics............

Must be those Krazy Koreans.

Korean Dies After Two Days of Computer Games (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,165296,00.html)
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea — A 28-year-old South Korean man died of exhaustion in an Internet cafe after playing computer games non-stop for 49 hours, South Korean police said Wednesday.

Lee, a resident in the southern city of Taegu (search) who was identified only by his last name, collapsed Friday after having eaten minimally and not sleeping, refusing to leave his keyboard while he played the battle simulation game Starcraft (search).

Lee was quickly moved to a hospital but died after a few hours, due to what doctors are presuming was a heart attack, police said.

Lee had been fired from his job last month because he kept missing work to play computer games, police said.

Computer games are enormously popular in South Korea, home to professional gamers who earn big money through sponsorships and television stations devoted to broadcasting matches.

Olympics should go back to the uniforms used in the original games in Greece.
That's about the only opinion I have about the games.:innocent:

Olympics should go back to the uniforms used in the original games in Greece.
That's about the only opinion I have about the games.:innocent:

You just want to watch mens wrestling, don't you...

http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/recognized/index_uk.asp

Chess?!! Bridge?!! :wtf:

You just want to watch mens wrestling, don't you...

womens gymnastics and trampoline FTW!

You just want to watch mens wrestling, don't you...

hey, it would be cool if ALL the athletes dressed that way:D

I heard, yesterday, that someone was trying to get computer gaming included in the olympics............

Chess (http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1827716,00.html)



What makes a sport an Olympic sport--marketing and endorsement potential.

womens gymnastics and trampoline FTW!

:thumb:

Who made this designation? I can think of a lot more sports that are way more physically demanding

"Motocross is the second most physically demanding sport on the planet"

Personally, I don't consider any sport viable for Olympic consideration if it does not include athletes from Africa.

Show jumping? How many people do that?

Who made this designation? I can think of a lot more sports that are way more physically demanding

"Motocross is the second most physically demanding sport on the planet"

Personally, I don't consider any sport viable for Olympic consideration if it does not include athletes from Africa.

Show jumping? How many people do that?

It's UA. We humor him.:p

I recall a few years back reading an article that assessed the fitness of athletes from all ranges of sport.

socerr / footballers (depending on where you live) scored highest

Professional motocross riders scored second.

This was when Jeremy McGrath was riding so it was not too long ago.

Cannot recall where I read it though.

From teh wiki:

Physical demands

http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:MotoX_start.jpg)
Motocross start


The National Sport Health Institute in Englewood, California tested several professional motocross racers in early 2006 as part of a comparative study of the cardiovascular fitness of athletes from various disciplines. Athletes from track, American football and soccer were tested, among others. Motocross racers get their heart rate up to around 180 to 190 beats per minute and hold it there for about 35 minutes. Another thing to consider is that they do this twice per day (Original article appeared in "TIME" magazine in 2005). Comparatively, those participating in leisure activities such as track and field only manage to raise their heart rates to a HRM 150 for only five minutes. A subsequent study by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre's Sports Performance Complex in 2007 reconfirmed the result with more recent motocross racers. The intense physical demand of motocross derives from the fact that the racer of the bike must keep complete control of a 200+ pound bike, while also maintaining their top speed throughout the race.

Chess (http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1827716,00.html)

If Stephen Hawking could conceivably compete, then no, it can't possibly be a sport.

Motocross is the second most physically demanding sport on the planet, yet it's not represented in the Olympics. Is it because the Olympics should only include human powered events? If that's the case, sailing should be out...Is it because it has a motor? I would think a sport that's so physically demanding would trump it's power source.

I'm not advocating Mx being in the Olympics, but I'm just wondering what makes an Olympic sport and where should the line be drawn?

Where did you get the second most physically demanding? I can think of several I would put ahead of motocross. Not to say motocross is not physically demanding. I would nominate it for most underestimated when it comes to physical demands in a second.

As to Motocross becoming an Olympic sport as in the Olympics I'd tend to think it will not be, mainly for venue considerations.

My GF made a comment about "Beach Volleyball" being an Olympic sport.....wich was then followed by statements like "The judges must be counting the T&A factor" or "What Sponsored by Coppertone?"

A wiki article whose source is now a dead link?

It picks only one criteria, cardio fitness. Not much of a surprise that motocross can beat american football and track (one assumes average over all disciplines).

Of course they would get blown away by bicycling (road racing), distance running or walking or swimming on that one measure. But I'll bet averages for motocross riders beat those 3 substancially for reaction time and hand eye coordination.



From teh wiki:

Physical demands

http://en.wikipedia.org/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:MotoX_start.jpg)
Motocross start


The National Sport Health Institute in Englewood, California tested several professional motocross racers in early 2006 as part of a comparative study of the cardiovascular fitness of athletes from various disciplines. Athletes from track, American football and soccer were tested, among others. Motocross racers get their heart rate up to around 180 to 190 beats per minute and hold it there for about 35 minutes. Another thing to consider is that they do this twice per day (Original article appeared in "TIME" magazine in 2005). Comparatively, those participating in leisure activities such as track and field only manage to raise their heart rates to a HRM 150 for only five minutes. A subsequent study by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre's Sports Performance Complex in 2007 reconfirmed the result with more recent motocross racers. The intense physical demand of motocross derives from the fact that the racer of the bike must keep complete control of a 200+ pound bike, while also maintaining their top speed throughout the race.

how much of a cardio workout is some of the horse events, why not motor sports, the horse does all the work

Free diving

The person that can dive deeper underwater wins.

How hard could that be?