Olympic Golf 2016 and other comings and goings

[ECUNCHATER]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/rugbyNews/idUKL1602495720080716

I heard about this the other week. Another article I read said they only allow for 28 sports and golf is trying to get back in. What do you think should be in the Olympics?

IMHO, Soccer, Basketball, Rugby, Golf, Tennis, Swimming, Diving, Gymnastics, Volleyball, Track & Field, Cycling, baseball, and maybe Cricket. I'm sure I missed a few, but there is no need for adding all of the extreme sports that they have been adding to both the summer and winter games. They should get rid of BMX and Trampoline. Replace them with golf and Rugby.

[soccernutter]

Baseball is out after this year.

I agree with you on the extreme sports, but team sports that have world championships (rugby, soccer, cricket, etc) should also be excluded. Yet, one can make a case for soccer (popularity) or basketball (stadiums already exist)

Golf, though, I have no opinion at this time.

[Caesar]

Golf... meh. It's another tennis, as far as the Olympics go who cares?

No need for it - golf is an individual sport where players compete against each other all the time anyway, and make significant pay packets from it. It would be a second-rate competition with little significance in the sport's calendar. I'd rather preserve the integrity of the tournament.

[soccernutter]

No need for it - golf is an individual sport where players compete against each other all the time anyway, and make significant pay packets from it.

But what is T&F? It is all individual events and the athletes compete against each other most of the year as well. And that is where they make their pay.

[Caesar]

But what is T&F? It is all individual events and the athletes compete against each other most of the year as well. And that is where they make their pay.
Kind of a different situation, what with the historical ties between the Olympics and the sport. On the other hand, the mythos of golf will always be in the majors (just like the mythos of tennis being in the slams).

You could put it in, and maybe one day it could become a prestigious tournament. But it's never going to be the top honour on the golf circuit.

[soccernutter]

Kind of a different situation, what with the historical ties between the Olympics and the sport. On the other hand, the mythos of golf will always be in the majors (just like the mythos of tennis being in the slams).

You could put it in, and maybe one day it could become a prestigious tournament. But it's never going to be the top honour on the golf circuit.

I agree. Make it another major, and then you might get a good field. Then the problem would be with corporate sponsorship. Of course, it would be interesting to see the best in the world play against each other unlike the War of the Continents (or what ever that US v. Euro thing is, which leaves alot of guys out).

But, I also don't think golf has a place at the Olys.

[JoeTerp]

I think Gold should be part of the olympics. I think the olympics should have any sport that is played around the world and golf qualifies. Sort of a self fulfing prophecy to say that gol f shouldn't be in the olympics because it has no history at the olympics. Every athlete wants the opportunity to play for their country and walk under their flag at the opening ceremony, why shouldn't golphers get the same chance. Yes it probably wont be the most watched of the olympic events and it wont be the best golf tournament of the year, but you don't see people trying to get ping-pong out of the olympics. The golphers will only be around for one week and play for 4 days and wouldn't get in any of the other athletes way or take from their spotlight.

[soccernutter]

I think Gold should be part of the olympics. I think the olympics should have any sport that is played around the world and golf qualifies. Sort of a self fulfing prophecy to say that gol f shouldn't be in the olympics because it has no history at the olympics. Every athlete wants the opportunity to play for their country and walk under their flag at the opening ceremony, why shouldn't golphers get the same chance. Yes it probably wont be the most watched of the olympic events and it wont be the best golf tournament of the year, but you don't see people trying to get ping-pong out of the olympics. The golphers will only be around for one week and play for 4 days and wouldn't get in any of the other athletes way or take from their spotlight.

But it would take nearly every city that hosts to either update a current course, or create a new course, that is of the highest level.

[JoeTerp]

But it would take nearly every city that hosts to either update a current course, or create a new course, that is of the highest level.

pennies compared to the other costs of hosting an olympic games. I would think most cities would have a high enough standard gold course nearby that is within reasonable tweaking distance of a high enough calibure. Especially considering they have something like 8 years to do it.

[Gold is the Colour]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/rugbyNews/idUKL1602495720080716

I heard about this the other week. Another article I read said they only allow for 28 sports and golf is trying to get back in. What do you think should be in the Olympics?

IMHO, Soccer, Basketball, Rugby, Golf, Tennis, Swimming, Diving, Gymnastics, Volleyball, Track & Field, Cycling, baseball, and maybe Cricket. I'm sure I missed a few, but there is no need for adding all of the extreme sports that they have been adding to both the summer and winter games. They should get rid of BMX and Trampoline. Replace them with golf and Rugby.

The bolded ones already have Olympics as the highest level (internationally) for their sport and should definately stay.

The Blue could have a modified version in the Olympics - football sort of does already with U/23s, Rugby should be Rugby 7's - cricket couldn't be test matches or even full one dayers but twenty20 could work. Maybe Futsal could be the Olympic version of football?

The red are special cases:
Cycling has Le Tour which is much more important for road cyclists, but for the velodrome Olympics is the pinicle. Cycling also has a long and proud history within the Olympics so really should stay anyway.

Baseball does have the Olympics as the highest international event, but there aren't that many countries that take it seriously - and the US doesn't take International Baseball seriously at all. Kicking it out is maybe harsh on Cuba and Japan and to a lesser extent China and Taiwan though. Maybe a modified form of Baseball (a bit quicker and more exciting for non-devotees) could work.

Golf and Tennis have no place at the Olympics IMO.

Your list is also very harsh on Hockey, Water Polo, Handball, Badminton and Table Tennis, all of which deserve their place.

[DoyleG]

Golf would have to streamline its organization and the tour's various schedules in order to be even considered for an olympic sport.

As for baseball and softball, they may be out for 2012 but the votes to remove them weren't that great.

[ThreeApples]

Some kind of team golf competition could be interesting. A regular 4-round par-72 tournament would be pointless.

[ECUNCHATER]

Golf... meh. It's another tennis, as far as the Olympics go who cares?

No need for it - golf is an individual sport where players compete against each other all the time anyway, and make significant pay packets from it. It would be a second-rate competition with little significance in the sport's calendar. I'd rather preserve the integrity of the tournament.

Isn't that pretty much what every Olympic sport already is? England/Great Britian doesn't even compete in Olympic soccer. I think most people care about the World Cup, or top pro leagues in most sports over the Olympic competition, so golf would be no different. There really is no excitment over the soccer or basketball tournament here in America compared to when the NCAA basketball tournament, NBA Finals, or FIFA World Cup are being played.

[Caesar]

Isn't that pretty much what every Olympic sport already is? England/Great Britian doesn't even compete in Olympic soccer. I think most people care about the World Cup, or top pro leagues in most sports over the Olympic competition, so golf would be no different. There really is no excitment over the soccer or basketball tournament here in America compared to when the NCAA basketball tournament, NBA Finals, or FIFA World Cup are being played.
For the majority of Olympic sports, the Olympics are the highest honour on their calendar. Tennis, basketball and football are the exception rather than the rule.

Olympic basketball also has a lot more relevance and importance for non-US players and fans than Americans.

[ECUNCHATER]

For the majority of Olympic sports, the Olympics are the highest honour on their calendar. Tennis, basketball and football are the exception rather than the rule.

Olympic basketball also has a lot more relevance and importance for non-US players and fans than Americans.

Don't forget to cross out cycling (Tour de France), boxing (World Heavy Weight Championship fight) and sailing (Americas Cup).

[MNAFETSC]

Baseball does have the Olympics as the highest international event, but there aren't that many countries that take it seriously - and the US doesn't take International Baseball seriously at all. Kicking it out is maybe harsh on Cuba and Japan and to a lesser extent China and Taiwan though. Maybe a modified form of Baseball (a bit quicker and more exciting for non-devotees) could work.


With the success of the WBC these teams and there fans won't be missing the MLB player free olympics.

[Caesar]

Don't forget to cross out cycling (Tour de France), boxing (World Heavy Weight Championship fight) and sailing (Americas Cup).
Not so. Boxing is amateur, which is a completely separate area - for the fighters in the tournament that is the pinnacle of their arena.

Cycling is 95% velodrome, which is essentially a different sport from road racing. Same for sailing - it's all small-boat one-design, which is a far cry from big boat racing.

[The Potter]

Golf's not a sport.

Rugby 7's would be great Olympic Sport.

[The Potter]

Not so. Boxing is amateur, which is a completely separate area - for the fighters in the tournament that is the pinnacle of their arena.

Cycling is 95% velodrome, which is essentially a different sport from road racing. Same for sailing - it's all small-boat one-design, which is a far cry from big boat racing.

Spot on.

[ECUNCHATER]

Not so. Boxing is amateur, which is a completely separate area - for the fighters in the tournament that is the pinnacle of their arena.

Cycling is 95% velodrome, which is essentially a different sport from road racing. Same for sailing - it's all small-boat one-design, which is a far cry from big boat racing.

Well the point is most of these sports aren't the top level, so not to many people care when it comes to fans watching. Why not add golf then?