A few weeks ago, I asked whether it was a sad day for Olympic sports when the IOC voted to remove wrestling from the 2020 Olympics. You can read that post here.
In my opinion, keeping wrestling is a no-brainer.
Including "professional" sports is a complicated issue for me. In some ways I love it and in other ways I don't.
Although this blog is dedicated to Olympic sports, that does not mean that I don't also love professional sports. I love the Toronto Raptors, Maple Leafs, Blue Jays and TFC. I love tennis and golf.
Loving the Olympics like I do, I love to see my favourite athletes whether they are amateur or professional to get to experience the Games but I fear that the professional athletes that we see on television year round will take the attention away from the amateur athletes we only get to see during Olympic years.
I also have an issue with professional athletes who covet their own championships more than an Olympic medal. Ask a basketball player if he would rather win an NBA Championship or an Olympic gold medal and most will answer the NBA Championship. Although, perhaps that is only an issue for American basketball players because winning an Olympic gold medal isn't really a challenge for the "dream team". Ask a Canadian, Spanish or French basketball player and the answer would probably be different.
Tennis and golf were in the Olympics in the early 1900's. Winning a gold medal for those athletes was probably very important, but to tennis players and golfers today, an Olympic gold medal can be a side benefit. Most would rather win a major or a Grand Slam.
The other problem with golf is that the best players are not all represented at the Olympics. This issue occurs with amateur sports as well but it's more glaring with famous professional athletes. There are mogul skiers or cross-country skiers for example who are in the top 10 in the world who will not qualify for the 2014 Olympics because each country only have so many entries. Would you recognize their names?
The top 15 players in the world automatically qualify for golf. The next 45 players whose countries don't already have two players qualified would get invitations. Looking at the 2012 year end World Rankings, four players would qualify who are out of the top 300 but number 16 ranked Phil Mickelson wouldn't (and many other players who could win on any given day). It could be good news for Canada with David Hearn ranked 224. He would have qualified. Of course things will change on the road to Rio.
In tennis, only three players outside the top 100 competed at the 2012 Olympics. Their qualification method seems better (or more diverse in countries represented in the top 100). Tennis allows for four players from one country compared to two for golf. This selection process wouldn't help Phil Mickelson though.
Golf unlike tennis, is a sport where anyone can win on any given day. In the 20 golf majors between 2008-2012, there have been 18 different winners. In the 28 tennis Grand Slams between 2006-2012, there have been 5 winners (with 3 players winning 26 of those). What is best, having an Olympic champion who is "worthy" because he is already in the top of his sport or having a surprise winner? There are definitely Olympic sports like tennis where the same people win, but is there a sport where someone outside the top 50 could win a medal? Between 2009 and 2012, there were 6 golf major champions who were ranked outside the top 50 (and only 2 who were ranked in the top 10). There are many golfers ranked between 15-50 who could win but won't compete because of the selection criteria. The American dream team (think Ryder Cup/President's Cup) in golf is definitely not guaranteed a gold medal like the basketball dream team.
Another issue for me is the amount of time needed for some of these sports. Golf will increase coverage by approximately 5 hours for each of 4 rounds if they show the full round for the leaders (double when we include the women). It would probably be even more than that if they show every player's full rounds. That is coverage potentially taken away from sports that only get coverage every four years.
As a spectator, I was annoyed during the London 2012 Olympics when CTV was showing tennis matches on the main network during the early rounds. I felt that players that I could see week in and week out throughout the year was taking broadcast time away from Olympians that we only get to see every four years. I wouldn't have had a problem if they had showed the tennis online or on another network.
For me, early round matches were not very important. Roger Federer playing a first round match that he has a 99% chance of winning shouldn't be televised in Canada (on our main network) ahead of our amateur athletes (as much as I love Roger).
Ironically, I was driving my kids to camp up in Muskoka when the men's final was going on. We stopped at McDonald's in Huntsville and we were excited that the match was being televised. We sat at a bar-type table all facing the television. As the match is nearing the end, an employee comes up and changes the channel. A table of women move closer and cheer as Canada's women's basketball team is playing a match. All I could do was laugh at the irony. I believe the basketball game was a quarter final while a British (Scottish) man who hasn't won a major is about to win gold in his home "country" (I'm married to an English man, so don't get me started on the Scottish-English-Welsh-Northern Irish-Great British-UK thing).
Although, speaking of that "thing", Rory McIlroy, the #1 ranked player at the end of 2012 from Northern Ireland, has already said that he may not want to compete at the Olympics because he doesn't want to choose whether to compete for Great Britain or Ireland (in so doing potentially alienating a portion of his fans). Being from Northern Ireland, he can choose which one he wants to represent. Does that not say something about whether the Olympics are important or not to (some) professional golfers?
In the end, my biggest problem with professional athletes competing at the Olympics is the attention that multi-millionaire household names who we see compete year round will take away from the amateur Olympians we only get to see every four years. The news programs, the headlines, the sports highlights will feature the professional household names instead of introducing the mainstream to our amateur athletes.
The IOC are trying to get big name athletes into the Games along with big sponsors. They are thinking about the money and the viewership but I fear that in doing so, the Olympics will lose their tradition and history and will just become another competition on the calendar.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
Best Olympics Games
The 1988 Olympic Games ended 25 years ago tonight.
Last week, Scott Russell of CBC Sports wondered if it was the greatest game ever. You can read the article here.
My first reaction was "what"? Seriously? Vancouver was the best!!!!
But the more I thought about it, it did have an innocence that today's Games don't have.
Canada won 5 medals at the 1988 Olympic Games. Total! (and no gold medals) At the 2010 Olympics, we won 14 Gold! But the "greatest games" can't be just about Canada's success.
The 1988 Games was about the stories not only who won the medals.
A Twitter account was set up with tweets posted daily by Calgary Herald writer Jason Markusoff reliving the 1988 Olympic Games. It was wonderful to relive the Battle of the Brians and Battle of the Carmens, La Bomba Tomba and 3 time gold medallist Matti Nykanen.
If you missed it, you can relive it in its entirety here. There were other stories as well.
Eddie the Eagle captured our imagination. Canada even invited him to run in the Olympic relay for the 2010 Olympics - 23 years later.
The Jamaican Bobsleigh team has not been forgotten. I was thrilled to see the bobsleigh on display at the airport in Jamaica last year. There is also a tourist attraction that I didn't have time to visit.
These were stories about participation. They were athletes with a dream but without the means to become the best.
Although the Olympic Committee has turned towards including professional athletes to get television ratings and sponsorship, in 1988 these athletes from small countries with little or no snow captured our imagination.
We were introduced to athletes we had never heard of, got familiar with their struggles to compete at the Olympics and although they came in last place, we cheered for them.
Today's Olympics offer multi-millionaire athletes who view the Olympics as secondary to their major or Grand Slam titles. Athletes we see on television week in and week out. I'm still working on a blog post about professional athletes at the Olympics so will not dwell on this topic now. Suffice to say that I struggle with their inclusion. On the one hand I want the best athletes representing their countries. On the other I want the athletes and sports to value Olympic tradition and values.
It's sad to say that perhaps this is what the world has come to. Attention spans aren't long enough to listen to the stories of athletes they haven't heard of yet.
Last week, Scott Russell of CBC Sports wondered if it was the greatest game ever. You can read the article here.
My first reaction was "what"? Seriously? Vancouver was the best!!!!
But the more I thought about it, it did have an innocence that today's Games don't have.
Canada won 5 medals at the 1988 Olympic Games. Total! (and no gold medals) At the 2010 Olympics, we won 14 Gold! But the "greatest games" can't be just about Canada's success.
The 1988 Games was about the stories not only who won the medals.
A Twitter account was set up with tweets posted daily by Calgary Herald writer Jason Markusoff reliving the 1988 Olympic Games. It was wonderful to relive the Battle of the Brians and Battle of the Carmens, La Bomba Tomba and 3 time gold medallist Matti Nykanen.
If you missed it, you can relive it in its entirety here. There were other stories as well.
Eddie the Eagle captured our imagination. Canada even invited him to run in the Olympic relay for the 2010 Olympics - 23 years later.
The Jamaican Bobsleigh team has not been forgotten. I was thrilled to see the bobsleigh on display at the airport in Jamaica last year. There is also a tourist attraction that I didn't have time to visit.
These were stories about participation. They were athletes with a dream but without the means to become the best.
Although the Olympic Committee has turned towards including professional athletes to get television ratings and sponsorship, in 1988 these athletes from small countries with little or no snow captured our imagination.
We were introduced to athletes we had never heard of, got familiar with their struggles to compete at the Olympics and although they came in last place, we cheered for them.
Today's Olympics offer multi-millionaire athletes who view the Olympics as secondary to their major or Grand Slam titles. Athletes we see on television week in and week out. I'm still working on a blog post about professional athletes at the Olympics so will not dwell on this topic now. Suffice to say that I struggle with their inclusion. On the one hand I want the best athletes representing their countries. On the other I want the athletes and sports to value Olympic tradition and values.
It's sad to say that perhaps this is what the world has come to. Attention spans aren't long enough to listen to the stories of athletes they haven't heard of yet.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
The Heartbeat
This week's edition of The Heartbeat include events in Montréal, Calgary, Winnipeg, Gatineau, London and Edmonton.
Sports being televised or streamed include Freestyle World Ski Championships, Nordic Skiing World Championships, Paralympic Alpine Skiing World Championships, World Junior Figure Skating Championships, World Junior Curling Championships, alpine skiing, The Brier, speed skating, biathlon, gymnastics and diving.
Events to meet/see/support athletes are being held in Winnipeg and Toronto.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Haven't you run before, Mo?
I don't know why I find this so funny, because I don't normally like people being embarrassed but I watched this interview today laughing out loud (maybe because I love Mo and thought he handled it so well).
Mo Farah won the half-marathon in New Orleans on Sunday. He was interviewed by a local television anchor. Her enthusiasm and amazement at his win and course record is contagious even when we realize that she doesn't really understand the situation. I don't have an issue with people not knowing Mo (one of my favourite Olympians from the 2012 Olympics). However, I have an issue with a television station having a presenter interview him without letting her know that he is the reigning 5000m and 10000m Olympic champion. I think the station is more to blame than the presenter.
Had she known this, she wouldn't have asked "Haven't you run before? This isn't your first time." or told him that he is "off to a great start and what is next for you. Do you have any other races coming up".
I think you have to be British or a track or Olympic fan to know him - or have seen the viral Tumblr account showing Mo Running Away From Things where they took photos of him from the Olympics and photoshopped them into other scenes like this one that includes my favourite British cyclist (photo credit to Mo Running Away From Things - click on the link to see other hilarious photos).
There was a huge reaction on Twitter and in the British papers, many attacking the interviewer for not knowing who Mo is. I really think this was an overreaction.
I even saw some British saying if it had been American Galen Rupp, who finished second and trained with Mo, Brits would have known who Rupp was. Really? Would they know Kenenisa Bekele? He won the 5000m and 10000m in 2008 (and gold and silver in 2004). I had to look that up. Would they have known Rupp only because he raced and trained with a Brit (that's the reason I remember Rupp because I was already a Farah fan so I loved this story)?
I also don't agree that this is a typical American issue. Many blamed the Americans for not knowing non-American heroes. I think most countries are like that. We know and support our own. I don't think Brits, French, Spanish, Australian or Canadian fans would know the American Olympians (besides the dominating ones in major events).
The problem isn't that this presenter doesn't know who Mo is. I think this conversation happening at a party isn't a problem. She doesn't work for a sports channel or even in the sports department I would guess.
I can only imagine how she felt when she found out she interviewed a double gold medallist. Taking a moment to check the internet could have prevented the embarrassment for her and her station but there's no need to attack the presenter.
On the bright side, a lot more people know who Mo Farah is today (and I was given an excuse to write a blog post about him).
Later edit:
I love what Mo had to say on Twitter: Just wanna say to everyone being nasty to LaTonya Norton please stop!! She made a mistake like we all do!! She didn't mean anything by it!
Mo Farah won the half-marathon in New Orleans on Sunday. He was interviewed by a local television anchor. Her enthusiasm and amazement at his win and course record is contagious even when we realize that she doesn't really understand the situation. I don't have an issue with people not knowing Mo (one of my favourite Olympians from the 2012 Olympics). However, I have an issue with a television station having a presenter interview him without letting her know that he is the reigning 5000m and 10000m Olympic champion. I think the station is more to blame than the presenter.
Had she known this, she wouldn't have asked "Haven't you run before? This isn't your first time." or told him that he is "off to a great start and what is next for you. Do you have any other races coming up".
I think you have to be British or a track or Olympic fan to know him - or have seen the viral Tumblr account showing Mo Running Away From Things where they took photos of him from the Olympics and photoshopped them into other scenes like this one that includes my favourite British cyclist (photo credit to Mo Running Away From Things - click on the link to see other hilarious photos).
There was a huge reaction on Twitter and in the British papers, many attacking the interviewer for not knowing who Mo is. I really think this was an overreaction.
I even saw some British saying if it had been American Galen Rupp, who finished second and trained with Mo, Brits would have known who Rupp was. Really? Would they know Kenenisa Bekele? He won the 5000m and 10000m in 2008 (and gold and silver in 2004). I had to look that up. Would they have known Rupp only because he raced and trained with a Brit (that's the reason I remember Rupp because I was already a Farah fan so I loved this story)?
I also don't agree that this is a typical American issue. Many blamed the Americans for not knowing non-American heroes. I think most countries are like that. We know and support our own. I don't think Brits, French, Spanish, Australian or Canadian fans would know the American Olympians (besides the dominating ones in major events).
The problem isn't that this presenter doesn't know who Mo is. I think this conversation happening at a party isn't a problem. She doesn't work for a sports channel or even in the sports department I would guess.
I can only imagine how she felt when she found out she interviewed a double gold medallist. Taking a moment to check the internet could have prevented the embarrassment for her and her station but there's no need to attack the presenter.
On the bright side, a lot more people know who Mo Farah is today (and I was given an excuse to write a blog post about him).
Later edit:
I love what Mo had to say on Twitter: Just wanna say to everyone being nasty to LaTonya Norton please stop!! She made a mistake like we all do!! She didn't mean anything by it!
Heartbeat Highlights
Here are some of the highlights from the past week in amateur sports.
Caroline Calvé won the Ladies' Snowboard Parallel Slalom World Cup race in Moscow. Click here for the race video. She posted a photo on Twitter of herself and the pilot on her way home with the very large trophy she won. That's quite the carry-on!
Canada's moguls team dominated this past weekend with 4 of the 6 podium spots. Mikaël Kingsbury and Audrey Robichaud won the men's and women's moguls competitions in Japan. Alexandre Bilodeau and Chloé Dufour-Lapointe joined them on the podiums, both in third place. Click here for the men's highlights and here for the women's.
Canada didn't fare as well in the dual moguls the next day with one podium performance. Alexandre Bilodeau finished second. Click here for the race video.
Alex Harvey made Canadian history by winning the bronze medal in the 1.5km sprint at the Nordic Skiing World Championships. It was the first podium ever for a Canadian in an individual event. Click here to watch the final, semi and quarter final. Cliquez ici pour lire un reportage en français avec une entrevue avec Alex. In the relay, Alex and Devon Kershaw were 0.03 seconds from the podium in the relay.
Canada's Luge team comprising of Alex Gough, Sam Edney and doubles Tristan Walker and Justin Snith won bronze in the team relay event at the Sochi World Cup finishing a successful season that is showing great promise leading into the Olympics next year.
After being 26th in the downhill portion of the Super Combined, Marie-Michelle Gagnon was second in the slalom to finish a personal best 5th overall.
It wasn't a stellar performance by our Men's Alpine Ski team at Garmish, but if you love to watch skiing, CBC have full race videos on their website. Click here.
If you love speed skating, click here to watch CBC's coverage of the World All-Round Championships.
Chris Williamson with guide Robin Féry won the first gold medal for Canada at the IPC Alpine World Skiing Championships in Molina, Italy by winning the Super Combined Visually Impaired. You can view the highlights here. Canada has nine medals so far at the Championships with two days to go.
The Para-Nordic World Championships are starting today and is being streamed live online here with race videos also available on the YouTube Channel. Brian McKeever and guide Eric Carleton started the championships strongly for Canada by winning the Visually Impaired Cross-Country Classic Sprints. Click here for the race video.
With spring around the corner, many winter sports are ending while summer sports have started their seasons. Bobsleigh and skeleton finished their seasons last week. Click here to read Team Spring's season review and click here to read Melissa Hollingsworth's thoughts on her season.
At the FINA Diving Grand Prix in Germany, sisters Carol-Ann and Pamela Ware won the bronze medal in the 10m synchronized event.
The women's team pursuit won the bronze medal at the UCI World Track Cycling Championships. 2012 Olympic bronze medallists Gillian Carleton and Jasmin Glaesser teamed up with Olympic alternate Laura Brown to repeat their 3rd place finish.
Antoine Valois-Fortier won another bronze medal at the Judo Düsseldorf Grand Prix. For fans of judo, you can watch Day 1 coverage here and Day 2 here. I looked on the videos for Antoine's match but didn't find it. The other bronze medal match in his weight category is at the beginning of the Day 2 video.
Finally, click here to watch Objectif Sotchi, Radio Canada's weekly show in french featuring Canadians on the road to Sochi. This week's episode includes Erik Guay, Chris Del Bosco (English interview with subtitles) and Sochi World Cup highlights, a bobsleigh recruitment test for Winnipeg Blue Bomber Pierre-Luc Labbé and a look back at Olympic gold and silver medallist in alpine skiing, Nancy Green.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
The Heartbeat
This week's edition of The Heartbeat include events in Québec, Calgary and Kingston, ON.
Sports being televised or streamed include freestyle skiing, snowboarding, alpine skiing, luge, curling, speed skating, figure skating, road cycling, judo, diving, UCI World Track Cycling World Championships, Nordic Skiing World Championships and Paralympic Alpine Skiing World Championships.
Events to meet/see athletes are being held in Montreal and Toronto.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Heartbeat Highlights
Here are some of our top results and video links in Olympic sports this past week.
The bobsleigh and skeleton season came to an end and what a season it was for Kaillie Humphries and Chelsea Valois who were third this week and finished the season with a podium in every race culminating with them winning the crystal globe for the overall World Cup title. Click here for a beautiful photo that Kaillie posted with the crystal globes.
Lyndon Rush and Jesse Lumsden finished their season with the crystal globe as well after a 4th place finish at the Sochi test event. Read more about their feat here.
Click here for bobsleigh and skeleton race videos.
Finishing the season so successfully at the Sochi track, hopefully they take this energy to the Olympics next year.
Speaking of the 2014 Olympics, two athletes punched their ticket to the Games with their podiums on the weekend in Sochi.
Mikaël Kingsbury won the moguls event at the Sochi test event. This win combined with his season's results have confirmed his place on Team Canada for 2014. It was also a great day for Philippe Marquis who joined him on the podium in 3rd. Click here for video highlights. Click here for Philippe's French blog post describing his experience.
Roz Groenewoud also cemented her spot on the Olympic team with a second place finish in the ski superpipe. Click here for video highlights. Keltie Hansen got her first podium of the season finishing third just behind Roz. Mike Riddle also earned a podium finishing 3rd in the men's ski superpipe edging him one step closer to making the Olympic team. Here's the video highlights.
With training days cancelled in Sochi due to fog and too much snow, ski cross finally got under way with Kelsey Serwa and Marielle Thompson finishing 1-2 for Canada. Click here for the race video. The cancelled days made for pretty photos posted by Kelsey (click here) and Chris Del Bosco (click here).
Chris also added a podium for Canada with a 2nd place finish. Click here for the race video.
Ariane Lavigne earned her first ever World Cup podium finishing 3rd in snowboard parallel giant slalom. Click here for the race video. The snowboard parallel slalom was cancelled due to warm weather.
In Judo, Kelita Zupancic won the gold medal at a World Cup in Budapest. Click here for the video. Antoine Valois-Fortier took the bronze. You can read more here.
The bobsleigh and skeleton season came to an end and what a season it was for Kaillie Humphries and Chelsea Valois who were third this week and finished the season with a podium in every race culminating with them winning the crystal globe for the overall World Cup title. Click here for a beautiful photo that Kaillie posted with the crystal globes.
Lyndon Rush and Jesse Lumsden finished their season with the crystal globe as well after a 4th place finish at the Sochi test event. Read more about their feat here.
Click here for bobsleigh and skeleton race videos.
Finishing the season so successfully at the Sochi track, hopefully they take this energy to the Olympics next year.
Speaking of the 2014 Olympics, two athletes punched their ticket to the Games with their podiums on the weekend in Sochi.
Mikaël Kingsbury won the moguls event at the Sochi test event. This win combined with his season's results have confirmed his place on Team Canada for 2014. It was also a great day for Philippe Marquis who joined him on the podium in 3rd. Click here for video highlights. Click here for Philippe's French blog post describing his experience.
Roz Groenewoud also cemented her spot on the Olympic team with a second place finish in the ski superpipe. Click here for video highlights. Keltie Hansen got her first podium of the season finishing third just behind Roz. Mike Riddle also earned a podium finishing 3rd in the men's ski superpipe edging him one step closer to making the Olympic team. Here's the video highlights.
With training days cancelled in Sochi due to fog and too much snow, ski cross finally got under way with Kelsey Serwa and Marielle Thompson finishing 1-2 for Canada. Click here for the race video. The cancelled days made for pretty photos posted by Kelsey (click here) and Chris Del Bosco (click here).
Chris also added a podium for Canada with a 2nd place finish. Click here for the race video.
Ariane Lavigne earned her first ever World Cup podium finishing 3rd in snowboard parallel giant slalom. Click here for the race video. The snowboard parallel slalom was cancelled due to warm weather.
In Judo, Kelita Zupancic won the gold medal at a World Cup in Budapest. Click here for the video. Antoine Valois-Fortier took the bronze. You can read more here.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The Heartbeat
This week's edition of The Heartbeat include events in Penticton (BC), Rockland (near Ottawa) and Kingston, ON.
Sports being televised or streamed include swimming, bobsleigh, skeleton, curling, speed skating, judo, freestyle skiing, snowboarding as well as World Championships in alpine skiing and biathlon.
Events to meet/see athletes are being held in Montreal, Toronto and various cities in Ontario.
Sports being televised or streamed include swimming, bobsleigh, skeleton, curling, speed skating, judo, freestyle skiing, snowboarding as well as World Championships in alpine skiing and biathlon.
Events to meet/see athletes are being held in Montreal, Toronto and various cities in Ontario.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Is it a sad day for Olympic sports?
The International Olympic Committee decided today to remove wrestling from the 2020 Olympics. I was shocked.
This decision makes no sense to me and so I felt the need to write about it while researching how this decision came about and whether my initial reaction is wrong and it does make sense.
Is understanding an IOC decision an oxymoron? Perhaps, but I need to try.
For the past few weeks, we've been hearing that modern pentathlon was at risk of losing its spot at the 2020 Olympics.
So once, they decide to keep the modern pentathlon, how in the world do they get to wrestling as the sport to remove?
It turns out that the decision isn't to remove wrestling, but to keep the other 25 core sports:
Golf and rugby 7's are added for 2016 but not counted in the core 25. Starting in 2020, there will be 25 core sports and three floating sports. Every sport will be at risk as a committee reviews the 25 core sports and 3 floating sports to remove and add sports to keep the total number at 28. In the past to remove a sport, the committee needed 2/3 agreement. In the future, it requires 50% of the votes +1. Does this mean that we will see more traditional Olympic sports be dropped?
Wrestling will now be added to the list of sports trying to get included in 2020. Those sports include:
Wrestling is a classic sport that has existed and evolved since ancient times. It is a sport that anyone from anywhere of any size can participate and excel in. It doesn't require a lot of money or a lot of resources or equipment.
Why would the IOC not protect wrestling? It is one of the original Olympic sports from the Ancient Olympic Games (along with boxing, equestrian events (chariot racing, riding), pankration, pentathlon (discus, javelin, jump, running, wrestling) and running.
My first thought was that they want to bring in karate when they vote for the next sport to be included.
Is there room for wrestling, judo, taekwondo (added in 2000), boxing and karate? I have now learned that wushu is a martial art, so it's also in the same "fighting" category in my mind.
But of course, it's not as simple as spreading out the types of sports. Nothing is simple when it comes to the IOC. Unfortunately many people believe that the IOC is guided by money, politics and corruption. When these types of decisions are made, more suspicion is thrown towards the IOC. Being a huge Olympic fan, I don't like to see its organizing committee criticized.
So wrestling is potentially being dropped from the Olympics, is this something that happens often?
Going back chronologically, sports that have been dropped are baseball/softball in 2012, judo in 1968 (then added again in 1972), polo and handball in 1948 (handball added back in 1972), football in 1932 (and re-added in 1936).
In the last 100 years the only sports that have been dropped and not returned to the schedule are: baseball/softball (added in 1992/1996), polo and tug-of-war. Rugby had been dropped but is coming back in 2016.
Dropping a sport has been rare. Dropping an original yet still current sport like wrestling is huge news! No wonder the media and twitter are going crazy today. It's not a sport like polo or tug-of-war. Who in the wrestling world upset the IOC? Did wrestling make the least amount of money for the IOC? They are possible explanations if it's meant to be a lasting change.
Did the IOC not understand its history or just ignore it? Did they feel that newly added sports (going back chronologically to 1940) like taekwondo, triathlon, badminton, table tennis, tennis, archery (added in 1972 - was in 1900, 1904, 1908, 1920 and dropped in 1924), handball, judo and volleyball are more worthy of inclusion?
Just so I'm clear, I would be just as upset to see most of those sports go. If not wrestling, then which sport should go? This leads into a good tangent discussion that I will write about in a separate blog post.
It just shocks me to see a historical Olympic sport like wrestling be dropped.
The other explanation is that the IOC doesn't want the proposed sports to be added. By adding wrestling to that list, it has a better chance of beating out the proposed sports than perhaps Modern Pentathlon or table tennis could have.
Maybe they just want to know how much the Olympic community cares about wrestling.
Rise up wrestling fans and federations! The IOC are expecting you.
I hope I'm right, otherwise it's a sad day for Olympic sports.
This decision makes no sense to me and so I felt the need to write about it while researching how this decision came about and whether my initial reaction is wrong and it does make sense.
Is understanding an IOC decision an oxymoron? Perhaps, but I need to try.
For the past few weeks, we've been hearing that modern pentathlon was at risk of losing its spot at the 2020 Olympics.
The original pentathlon dates back to the ancient Olympic Games and was modelled after the skills of the ideal soldier of that time. Modern pentathlon was invented by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games, to simulate the experiences of a 19th century cavalry soldier.
(quote taken from Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games website)I was saddened at the possibility of losing the modern pentathlon because I feel that there is an important place in the Olympics for it and perhaps the IOC agreed.
So once, they decide to keep the modern pentathlon, how in the world do they get to wrestling as the sport to remove?
It turns out that the decision isn't to remove wrestling, but to keep the other 25 core sports:
- acquatics (swimming, synchro, water polo and diving)
- archery
- badminton
- basketball
- boxing
- canoe/kayak
- cycling
- equestrian
- fencing
- field hockey
- gymnastics (artistic, rhythmic, trampoline)
- handball
- judo
- modern pentathlon
- rowing
- sailing
- shooting
- soccer/football
- table tennis
- taekwondo
- tennis
- track and field
- triathlon (swimming, biking, running)
- volleyball
- weightlifting
Golf and rugby 7's are added for 2016 but not counted in the core 25. Starting in 2020, there will be 25 core sports and three floating sports. Every sport will be at risk as a committee reviews the 25 core sports and 3 floating sports to remove and add sports to keep the total number at 28. In the past to remove a sport, the committee needed 2/3 agreement. In the future, it requires 50% of the votes +1. Does this mean that we will see more traditional Olympic sports be dropped?
Wrestling will now be added to the list of sports trying to get included in 2020. Those sports include:
- baseball/softball
- karate
- roller sports
- sport climbing
- squash
- wakeboarding
- wushu
Wrestling is a classic sport that has existed and evolved since ancient times. It is a sport that anyone from anywhere of any size can participate and excel in. It doesn't require a lot of money or a lot of resources or equipment.
Why would the IOC not protect wrestling? It is one of the original Olympic sports from the Ancient Olympic Games (along with boxing, equestrian events (chariot racing, riding), pankration, pentathlon (discus, javelin, jump, running, wrestling) and running.
My first thought was that they want to bring in karate when they vote for the next sport to be included.
Is there room for wrestling, judo, taekwondo (added in 2000), boxing and karate? I have now learned that wushu is a martial art, so it's also in the same "fighting" category in my mind.
But of course, it's not as simple as spreading out the types of sports. Nothing is simple when it comes to the IOC. Unfortunately many people believe that the IOC is guided by money, politics and corruption. When these types of decisions are made, more suspicion is thrown towards the IOC. Being a huge Olympic fan, I don't like to see its organizing committee criticized.
So wrestling is potentially being dropped from the Olympics, is this something that happens often?
Going back chronologically, sports that have been dropped are baseball/softball in 2012, judo in 1968 (then added again in 1972), polo and handball in 1948 (handball added back in 1972), football in 1932 (and re-added in 1936).
In the last 100 years the only sports that have been dropped and not returned to the schedule are: baseball/softball (added in 1992/1996), polo and tug-of-war. Rugby had been dropped but is coming back in 2016.
Dropping a sport has been rare. Dropping an original yet still current sport like wrestling is huge news! No wonder the media and twitter are going crazy today. It's not a sport like polo or tug-of-war. Who in the wrestling world upset the IOC? Did wrestling make the least amount of money for the IOC? They are possible explanations if it's meant to be a lasting change.
Did the IOC not understand its history or just ignore it? Did they feel that newly added sports (going back chronologically to 1940) like taekwondo, triathlon, badminton, table tennis, tennis, archery (added in 1972 - was in 1900, 1904, 1908, 1920 and dropped in 1924), handball, judo and volleyball are more worthy of inclusion?
Just so I'm clear, I would be just as upset to see most of those sports go. If not wrestling, then which sport should go? This leads into a good tangent discussion that I will write about in a separate blog post.
It just shocks me to see a historical Olympic sport like wrestling be dropped.
The other explanation is that the IOC doesn't want the proposed sports to be added. By adding wrestling to that list, it has a better chance of beating out the proposed sports than perhaps Modern Pentathlon or table tennis could have.
Maybe they just want to know how much the Olympic community cares about wrestling.
Rise up wrestling fans and federations! The IOC are expecting you.
I hope I'm right, otherwise it's a sad day for Olympic sports.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Heartbeat Highlights
Here are the highlights in the amateur sporting world this past weekend.
Luge World Cup from Lake Placid
3rd Women's: Alex Gough
Speed Skating - Short Track
2nd Charles Cournoyer 1000m
2nd Marianne St. Gelais 500m
3rd Marie-Eve Drolet 1500m
3rd Guillaume Bastille1500m
2nd Women relay 3000m Valérie Maltais, Marianne St-Gelais, Marie-Ève Drolet and Jessica Hewitt
Snowboard
Caroline Calvé was fourth in Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom in Rogla, Slovenia, in so doing becoming the points leader in the World Cup standings.
Sochi Test Events
Snowboard and Ski Slopestyle Sochi test events were cancelled this week due to lack of snow, rain and warm weather.
Bobsleigh and skeleton training have been cancelled due to poor track conditions.
En Route Vers Les Olympiques Avec 1 an avant les Olympiques 2014, Marie-José Turcotte anime En Route Vers Les Olympiques, qui nous introduit à Sotchi, qui parle de nos espoirs pour les Jeux et inclue les invités Charles Hamelin, Caroline Ouellette, Dominique Maltais, Alex Bilodeau, et les trois soeurs qui espèrent tous être sur l'équipe de bosses, Maxime, Chloé et Justine Dufour-Lapointe.
Regardez l'émission spéciale ici.
News
Women's C1 will be at Pan-Am Games in Toronto.
It was announced last week that C1 Sprint and C1 Slalom will be part of the Pan-Am Games in 2015 in Toronto. More info.
Women's C1 is not an Olympic sport. Last fall the International Canoe Federation decided to not include women's canoe in the 2016 Olympics. There was quite a discussion about this issue with the media, athletes and fans voicing opinions on whether it should be included or not. It's a complicated issue that includes a Catch-22. Without funding, it's difficult to grow the sport to a level that gets it included. Without it being included in the Olympics, it's difficult to get funding and sponsors. What comes first? Funding/growth or inclusion?
Perhaps Pan-Am inclusion is a step towards being included in the Olympics.
This is great news for Canada. Laurence Vincent-Lapointe, a 20-year old from Trois-Rivières, has won the past two World Championships in the C1 200m event. I was lucky to see her in action a couple of years ago.
2014 Olympics tickets
Even if you don't qualify to compete in Sochi, you can buy your ticket to attend the Games.
Tickets are on sale today at www.cosport.ca
Luge World Cup from Lake Placid
3rd Women's: Alex Gough
Speed Skating - Short Track
2nd Charles Cournoyer 1000m
2nd Marianne St. Gelais 500m
3rd Marie-Eve Drolet 1500m
3rd Guillaume Bastille1500m
2nd Women relay 3000m Valérie Maltais, Marianne St-Gelais, Marie-Ève Drolet and Jessica Hewitt
Snowboard
Caroline Calvé was fourth in Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom in Rogla, Slovenia, in so doing becoming the points leader in the World Cup standings.
Sochi Test Events
Snowboard and Ski Slopestyle Sochi test events were cancelled this week due to lack of snow, rain and warm weather.
Bobsleigh and skeleton training have been cancelled due to poor track conditions.
Sochi is quite far south and has warm climate, similar to Vancouver. Organizers have built vast underground vaults in order to store snow for the Olympics so hopefully lack of snow will not be a problem next year.
Judo Grand Slam - Paris
Kelita Zupancic - 2nd 70kg
Catherine Roberge - 3rd 78kg
Pairs
1st Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford
2nd Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch
Ice Dancing
2nd Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir
Men's
1st Ryan Reynolds
Objectif Sotchi
Animé par Marc Durand, Objectif Sotchi est diffusé chaque samedi à 14 h 00 à Radio-Canada.
Regardez l'émission du 9 février ici.
Judo Grand Slam - Paris
Kelita Zupancic - 2nd 70kg
Catherine Roberge - 3rd 78kg
Read Judo Canada's report here.
Click here for video. Final 70kg starts at 1:13:30 mark.
Click here for video of Can vs Can bronze medal match 78kg. It starts at 32:00 mark.
Olympic bronze medallist Antoine Valois-Fortier shared the video of his fight being confused and frustrated at his disqualification according to the new rules that were implemented this weekend. Click here for video.
Figure Skating - Four Continents
This event will be televised starting on February 23 on CBC.
Olympic bronze medallist Antoine Valois-Fortier shared the video of his fight being confused and frustrated at his disqualification according to the new rules that were implemented this weekend. Click here for video.
Figure Skating - Four Continents
This event will be televised starting on February 23 on CBC.
Pairs
1st Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford
2nd Kirsten Moore-Towers and Dylan Moscovitch
Ice Dancing
2nd Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir
Men's
1st Ryan Reynolds
Objectif Sotchi
En Route Vers Les Olympiques Avec 1 an avant les Olympiques 2014, Marie-José Turcotte anime En Route Vers Les Olympiques, qui nous introduit à Sotchi, qui parle de nos espoirs pour les Jeux et inclue les invités Charles Hamelin, Caroline Ouellette, Dominique Maltais, Alex Bilodeau, et les trois soeurs qui espèrent tous être sur l'équipe de bosses, Maxime, Chloé et Justine Dufour-Lapointe.
Regardez l'émission spéciale ici.
News
Women's C1 will be at Pan-Am Games in Toronto.
It was announced last week that C1 Sprint and C1 Slalom will be part of the Pan-Am Games in 2015 in Toronto. More info.
Women's C1 is not an Olympic sport. Last fall the International Canoe Federation decided to not include women's canoe in the 2016 Olympics. There was quite a discussion about this issue with the media, athletes and fans voicing opinions on whether it should be included or not. It's a complicated issue that includes a Catch-22. Without funding, it's difficult to grow the sport to a level that gets it included. Without it being included in the Olympics, it's difficult to get funding and sponsors. What comes first? Funding/growth or inclusion?
Perhaps Pan-Am inclusion is a step towards being included in the Olympics.
This is great news for Canada. Laurence Vincent-Lapointe, a 20-year old from Trois-Rivières, has won the past two World Championships in the C1 200m event. I was lucky to see her in action a couple of years ago.
2014 Olympics tickets
Even if you don't qualify to compete in Sochi, you can buy your ticket to attend the Games.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The Heartbeat
This week's edition of The Heartbeat include events in Gatineau, Markdale (ON), Edmonton, Apex (BC) and Winnipeg.
Sports being televised or streamed include swimming, bobsleigh, skeleton, Federation Cup tennis, speed skating, judo, freestyle skiing, snowboarding as well as World Championships in alpine skiing and biathlon.
Events to meet/see athletes are being held in Montreal, Calgary, Montebello, QC (near Montreal) and Toronto.
Sports being televised or streamed include swimming, bobsleigh, skeleton, Federation Cup tennis, speed skating, judo, freestyle skiing, snowboarding as well as World Championships in alpine skiing and biathlon.
Events to meet/see athletes are being held in Montreal, Calgary, Montebello, QC (near Montreal) and Toronto.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Heartbeat Highlights
The Heartbeat is my weekly newsletter detailing which upcoming events are being held in Canada and which events are being televised or streamed on the internet.
Heartbeat Highlights is a review of those events which will include outstanding results and links to videos of those great performances for those who may not have been able to see the events live.
It was another stellar weekend for our Canadian athletes.
Davis Cup Tennis - Vancouver
Canada's Davis Cup tennis team made history on the weekend beating #1 Seeded Spain to reach the Elite 8 in the Davis Cup for the first time. If you missed it, you can view the highlights from day 1 by clicking here, the doubles highlights here and the day 3 video highlights is here.
Canada will host Italy in the quarter finals April 5-7th. City to be determined.
Summary: Canada 3 - 2 Spain
Milos Raonic def. Albert Ramos 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4 6-4
Frank Dancevic def. Marcel Granollers 6-1 6-2 6-2
Marc Lopez/Marcel Granollers def. Daniel Nestor/Vasek Pospisil 4-6 6-4 6-7(4) 6-3 6-2
Milos Raonic def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3 6-4 6-2
Albert Ramos def. Frank Dancevic 7-5 6-4
Luge World Championships - Whistler
You can view competitions by clicking here and then clicking on the link in the schedule for each event.
Summary:
3rd Women's Event: Alex Gough
2nd Team Event: Alex Gough, Sam Edney, Justin Snith, Tristan Walker
1st U23 Doubles: Justin Snith, Tristan Walker (4th overall)
5th Men's Event: Sam Edney
To read Luge Canada's summary report, click here. To read Eric MacKenzie's Canadian Press report, click here.
Bobsleigh Skeleton World Championships
The World Championships for Bobsleigh and Skeleton have been held during the past two weekends. Click here for the Bobsleigh Skeleton TV YouTube channel where they have every heat from each event posted. Last weekend, Kaillie Humphries repeated as World Champion with new partner Chelsea Valois.
This weekend was the skeleton and 4 man-bobsleigh competitions.
The highlight for Canada was Sarah Reid who won bronze in the women's skeleton. Click the links for heat 1, heat 2, heat 3 and heat 4 and highlights.
Snowboard Cross World Cup
Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood was host to the Snowboard Cross World Cup this past weekend. Thanks to CBC Sportsweekend for the telecast.
Men's: 1st Chris Robanske
Click here to view the exciting men's final.
Women's: 2nd Dominique Maltais
Click here to view the women's final that also included Maëlle Ricker.
Short Track Speed Skating
Charles Hamelin has shown that he will be the one to beat next year with a double win at the Sochi test event.
1st Charles Hamelin 500m (Click here for video)
1st Charles Hamelin 1000m
2nd Women's 3000mRelay
FIS World Cup - Deer Valley
Moguls
1st Mikaël Kingsbury (19th consecutive podium)
2nd Alex Bilodeau
Click here for video.
As a sidenote, Sportsnet is televising last weekend's Calgary World Cup today and tomorrow. Check your local listing here.
Dual Moguls
1st Alex Bilodeau
Click here for video of men's final.
2nd Justine Dufour-Lapointe
Click here for video of women's final.
Aerials
2nd Travis Gerrits
Click here or here for video.
FIS Cross-Country World Cup
Just over one year to the 2014 Olympics, the cross-country World Cup was held in the host city, Sochi.
Click here for video highlight. Click here for Haywood Race Report.
Women's relay 3rd Dasha Gaizova and Perianne Jones
FIS Ski-Cross World Cup
2nd: Tristan Tafel
Click here for race video with a very exciting finish.
Sportsnet is replaying the Ski-Cross action today. Click here for local listings.
Water-Polo World Championships Qualifying
Canada's men's and women's teams competed in Calgary this past weekend in the hopes of qualifying for the World Championships. Both teams were successful. Click here to read more.
Objectif Sochi
Whether you speak french or not, Objectif Sochi which airs on the french CBC network on Saturday afternoons is worth watching. There are some bilingual features and lots of Olympic sport action. Click here to view past episodes.
Road To The Olympics
CBC have launched their Olympic website in anticipation to the 1 year to go to Sochi on Thursday. Click here for athlete profiles, videos and news.
En Route Vers Les Olympiques
Radio Canada a aussi lancé leur site Olympique. Plus infos.
Heartbeat Highlights is a review of those events which will include outstanding results and links to videos of those great performances for those who may not have been able to see the events live.
It was another stellar weekend for our Canadian athletes.
Davis Cup Tennis - Vancouver
Canada's Davis Cup tennis team made history on the weekend beating #1 Seeded Spain to reach the Elite 8 in the Davis Cup for the first time. If you missed it, you can view the highlights from day 1 by clicking here, the doubles highlights here and the day 3 video highlights is here.
Canada will host Italy in the quarter finals April 5-7th. City to be determined.
Summary: Canada 3 - 2 Spain
Milos Raonic def. Albert Ramos 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4 6-4
Frank Dancevic def. Marcel Granollers 6-1 6-2 6-2
Marc Lopez/Marcel Granollers def. Daniel Nestor/Vasek Pospisil 4-6 6-4 6-7(4) 6-3 6-2
Milos Raonic def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3 6-4 6-2
Albert Ramos def. Frank Dancevic 7-5 6-4
Luge World Championships - Whistler
You can view competitions by clicking here and then clicking on the link in the schedule for each event.
Summary:
3rd Women's Event: Alex Gough
2nd Team Event: Alex Gough, Sam Edney, Justin Snith, Tristan Walker
1st U23 Doubles: Justin Snith, Tristan Walker (4th overall)
5th Men's Event: Sam Edney
To read Luge Canada's summary report, click here. To read Eric MacKenzie's Canadian Press report, click here.
Bobsleigh Skeleton World Championships
The World Championships for Bobsleigh and Skeleton have been held during the past two weekends. Click here for the Bobsleigh Skeleton TV YouTube channel where they have every heat from each event posted. Last weekend, Kaillie Humphries repeated as World Champion with new partner Chelsea Valois.
This weekend was the skeleton and 4 man-bobsleigh competitions.
The highlight for Canada was Sarah Reid who won bronze in the women's skeleton. Click the links for heat 1, heat 2, heat 3 and heat 4 and highlights.
Snowboard Cross World Cup
Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood was host to the Snowboard Cross World Cup this past weekend. Thanks to CBC Sportsweekend for the telecast.
Men's: 1st Chris Robanske
Click here to view the exciting men's final.
Women's: 2nd Dominique Maltais
Click here to view the women's final that also included Maëlle Ricker.
Short Track Speed Skating
Charles Hamelin has shown that he will be the one to beat next year with a double win at the Sochi test event.
1st Charles Hamelin 500m (Click here for video)
1st Charles Hamelin 1000m
2nd Women's 3000mRelay
FIS World Cup - Deer Valley
Moguls
1st Mikaël Kingsbury (19th consecutive podium)
2nd Alex Bilodeau
Click here for video.
As a sidenote, Sportsnet is televising last weekend's Calgary World Cup today and tomorrow. Check your local listing here.
Dual Moguls
1st Alex Bilodeau
Click here for video of men's final.
2nd Justine Dufour-Lapointe
Click here for video of women's final.
Aerials
2nd Travis Gerrits
Click here or here for video.
FIS Cross-Country World Cup
Just over one year to the 2014 Olympics, the cross-country World Cup was held in the host city, Sochi.
Click here for video highlight. Click here for Haywood Race Report.
Women's relay 3rd Dasha Gaizova and Perianne Jones
FIS Ski-Cross World Cup
2nd: Tristan Tafel
Click here for race video with a very exciting finish.
Sportsnet is replaying the Ski-Cross action today. Click here for local listings.
Water-Polo World Championships Qualifying
Canada's men's and women's teams competed in Calgary this past weekend in the hopes of qualifying for the World Championships. Both teams were successful. Click here to read more.
Objectif Sochi
Whether you speak french or not, Objectif Sochi which airs on the french CBC network on Saturday afternoons is worth watching. There are some bilingual features and lots of Olympic sport action. Click here to view past episodes.
Road To The Olympics
CBC have launched their Olympic website in anticipation to the 1 year to go to Sochi on Thursday. Click here for athlete profiles, videos and news.
En Route Vers Les Olympiques
Radio Canada a aussi lancé leur site Olympique. Plus infos.
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