Streamlined / Expanded Event List

[Caesar]

Pretty simple thread. There are 39 disciplines currently, with a range of events in each. Which would you drop (if any) or add (if any)?

My choices for exclusion in bold, mainly based on whether the event is currently the pinnacle of the sport, and what sort of history it has in the Olympics. Probably wouldn't add anything.

Diving
Swimming
Synchronized swimming
Water polo
Canoe/kayak (flatwater)
Canoe/kayak (slalom)
BMX
Mountain biking
Road cycling
Track cycling
Gymnastics (Artistic)
Gymnastics (Rhythmic)
Gymnastics (Trampoline)
Volleyball (beach)
Volleyball (indoor)
Equestrian (dressage)
Equestrian (eventing)
Equestrian (jumping)
Wrestling (Freestyle)
Wrestling (Greco-Roman)
Archery
Athletics (track and field)
Badminton
Basketball
Boxing
Fencing
Field hockey
Football
Handball
Judo
Modern pentathlon
Rowing
Sailing
Shooting
Table tennis
Taekwondo
Tennis
Triathlon
Weightlifting

I really lean towards dropping a lot of the 'judged' sports as well (equestrian, synchronised swimming, gymnastics, even boxing) because they're not really my thing. But that's more personal bias than anything, most of them have a long history with the Olympics.

[DoyleG]

Did you consider the idea of moving some events to the Winter Games.

[Caesar]

Heh, I guess if you moved swimming to the Winter Games you might break a few records.

[Dtown]

Disagree on Basketball, while the NBA Finals is bigger that's only at the club level. The Olympics, is the pinnacle for international basketball. Granted Basketball does have a World Championship, but the Olympic Tournament is a good 20 years older and has the more defined history.

And of course unlike Soccer, Baseball etc it can and does draw the biggest names in the sport to the competition.

Aside from that I agree (well not on Beach Volleyball either. I found it entertaining and competitive)

BMX and Mountain Biking are better treated and better served at the x-games.

With Tennis, every tournament is an international competition so a tournament, with less history, and less coverage than a major makes little sense.

Football: Better international tournaments, top names don't care, some nations don't even care to compete, drop it.

Trampoline/Rhythmic Gymnastics: One is silly, the other I don't consider a sport at all. While I don't personally don't care for regular Gymnastics it's history and memorable moments are undeniable. The other two don't have those traits to back it up.

[DoyleG]

Heh, I guess if you moved swimming to the Winter Games you might break a few records.

I was aiming more at some of the indoor sports. It would lighten the load on teh Summer Games while giving a potential media boost to the Winter Games.

The only one I can agree with on your list is the BMX event. The problem is that the governing body of cycling got their sport in by reducing the number of athletes that can compete in other cycling events. So, I would tell if your would be happy with Mountain Biking and Road Cycling getting more participants due to being established sports in the Olympics.