# Regarding Certain Olympic Sports **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 20, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-certain-olympic-sports/260664 "2004-08-20T03:45:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-certain-olympic-sports/260664/61 "2004-08-25T00:11:59Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Actually, they’re forced to wear bikinis. The international volleyball people made it against the rules to wear one-peice bathing suits, in an effort to get more attention. I have to say, it worked for me. But if you’re going to go that far, I say, step on up to thongs. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-certain-olympic-sports/260664/62 "2004-08-25T03:13:18Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > I have to say, it worked for me. But if you’re going to go that far, I say, step on up to thongs. Hey … have you ever had to dig sand out of those things? It’s a _bitch_. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-certain-olympic-sports/260664/63 "2004-08-25T15:42:08Z")
> [@Dead Badger](#): > > Right, except that you were completely wrong in that kayaking does have objective judging criteria (speed with rigid time penalties) Never said that. > [@](#): > > plenty of people think it’s not dorky Fine, have fun doing it. But there is a limited amount of broadcast time for the Olympics, and I want more shot put and less wild water kayaking. I could have more respect for this event, and it would doubtless be exciting to participate in, if it were to take place _in an actual river!_ Instead, it’s run in an artificial channel that looks like the old “White Water Canyon” ride at Cedar Point. That’s like skiing down a greased ramp instead of a mountain. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-certain-olympic-sports/260664/64 "2004-08-25T15:59:25Z")
> [@Hyperelastic](#): > > Instead, it’s run in an artificial channel that looks like the old “White Water Canyon” ride at Cedar Point. That’s like skiing down a greased ramp instead of a mountain. You have confused hydrodynamics with shoreline aesthetics. Go to my page. Look at the kayaking pics. Then come back and tell us which were in an artificial channel designed for slalom racing, and how you were able to make such a determination. [Richard Clark Culpeper](http://my.tbaytel.net/culpeper/) ---
**Author:** ![kabbes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e99b99/32.png) [@kabbes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kabbes)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-certain-olympic-sports/260664/65 "2004-08-25T16:34:26Z")
For the record, even 0.05% of the world’s population of 6 billion is a whopping three million people. I’d say that if three million people enjoy doing something, that’s worth of inclusion on a popularity criteria. Of course, there is every chance that kayaking is enjoyed by a lot more than that. Just because it isn’t popular wherever the hell **Hyperelastic** happens to be, doesn’t mean it isn’t popular elsewhere. It’s very popular in France and Great Britain, for example (which is why lots of medallists have come from those two countries). I don’t get this whole rant at all. Your proposal seems to boil down to you listing the events that **you** find the most entertaining and mandating that only those be included. That’s stupid. There’s more to this Olympics than is dreamt of in your philosophy, **Hyperelastic**. pan ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-certain-olympic-sports/260664/66 "2004-08-25T17:07:49Z")
> [@](#): > > But there is a limited amount of broadcast time for the Olympics, and I want more shot put and less wild water kayaking. Dude, NBC is showing a _thousand_ hours of Olympic events. There’s plenty of shotput, really. Again, you’re just making this up as you go along, aren’t you? ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-certain-olympic-sports/260664/67 "2004-08-25T18:29:08Z")
Could we make pie-eating an olympic sport? It’s gauranteed that we Americans would beat the pants of those 3rd world pie-eaters! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-certain-olympic-sports/260664/68 "2004-08-25T18:43:31Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Dude, NBC is showing a _thousand_ hours of Olympic events. There’s plenty of shotput, really. > > Again, you’re just making this up as you go along, aren’t you? I can decide for myself how much shot put I want to see. And, of course I am making it up as I go along. What do you want, a doctoral dissertation on the programming strategy of NBC as it relates to the Olympic ideal and the sociological makeup of the potential audience? Also, I would draw your attention to the fact that this thread is being kept alive by the hysterical shrieking of the pro-kayaking forces, not me. We anti-kayakers are the strong, silent type. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-certain-olympic-sports/260664/69 "2004-08-25T21:38:21Z")
Perhaps you miss my point. See, you don’t like kayaking, don’t think it should be an Olympic sport. Your opinion, fine. The mistake you’ve been making, repeatedly, is to try to provide _reasons_ why it should not be. And each one gets shot down, so you have to come up with another. Follow? ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-certain-olympic-sports/260664/70 "2004-08-25T22:34:00Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Link: [Wanapitei River Pics](http://my.tbaytel.net/culpeper/WanapiteiRiverPics.html) Holy sh\*t, that looks fun! ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-certain-olympic-sports/260664/71 "2004-08-25T22:35:12Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > You have confused hydrodynamics with shoreline aesthetics. Go to my page. Look at the kayaking pics. Then come back and tell us which were in an artificial channel designed for slalom racing, and how you were able to make such a determination. [Richard Clark Culpeper](http://my.tbaytel.net/culpeper/) Listen, buddy, I had no idea you were such a kayaking nut. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. Go forth and paddle. ---
**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-certain-olympic-sports/260664/72 "2004-08-26T14:43:25Z")
> [@Chairman Pow](#): > > I didn’t think this warranted its own thread, but someone please explain this to me: it appears to be a sport where all the contestants are given a maximum speed and have to figure out a way to win from there. There’s gotta be something more to it than this, please educate me! No maximum speed. They just have to keep in contact with the ground at all times. I guess because otherwise, it’s just running. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/regarding-certain-olympic-sports/260664.md?page=3)