# Should Skate Luge be a Summer Olympics sport? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-skate-luge-be-a-summer-olympics-sport/344133 "2006-02-12T18:51:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-skate-luge-be-a-summer-olympics-sport/344133/1 "2006-02-12T18:51:06Z")
I first saw a [skate luge](http://www.skateluge.com/stguide.htm) (on TV) in the '80s. I don’t know where it started, but the first I heard of it it was in SoCal. I have no idea how popular it actually is, but I’d guess it’s probably as popular as curling. So should it be included in the Summer Olympics? I’d certainly watch it. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2006, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-skate-luge-be-a-summer-olympics-sport/344133/2 "2006-02-12T18:55:53Z")
“Now only the second Olympic event you can win an a Gold medal in against your will”. Noooo! push ---
**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:** [February 13, 2006, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-skate-luge-be-a-summer-olympics-sport/344133/3 "2006-02-13T02:06:22Z")
Skate Luge, Parkour, and Rock Climbing. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-skate-luge-be-a-summer-olympics-sport/344133/4 "2006-02-13T09:56:32Z")
Damn. I’m disappointed; I’ve never heard of Skate Luge before, but my mind’s eye was picturing an ice skater hurtling down a bobsleigh track at unbelievable speeds; I’d like to see that. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-skate-luge-be-a-summer-olympics-sport/344133/5 "2006-02-13T14:54:33Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Damn. I’m disappointed; I’ve never heard of Skate Luge before, but my mind’s eye was picturing an ice skater hurtling down a bobsleigh track at unbelievable speeds; I’d like to see that. That was exactly the way I envisioned it as well. I’d pay big money to watch THAT. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-skate-luge-be-a-summer-olympics-sport/344133/6 "2006-02-13T15:20:32Z")
> [@Lightnin'](#): > > That was exactly the way I envisioned it as well. I’d pay big money to watch THAT. I’d pay more still if two of them went down at the same time and had to fight to maintain posession of a spiked metal ball. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-skate-luge-be-a-summer-olympics-sport/344133/7 "2006-02-13T16:44:28Z")
Sure it’s a fun sport to watch, but is it worldwide enough? I’m not sure anybody other than the United States does it. As much as I like it, I’m gonna have to go with a No. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-skate-luge-be-a-summer-olympics-sport/344133/8 "2006-02-13T23:35:00Z")
Seems doubtful it will make it. First of all, it’s a complicated process to get a new sport into the Olympics. As drm suggested, it has to have a certain level of worldwide popularity, and there are specific requirements that must be met in that area. Next, it has to have a recognized governing body that sets the rules, and those rules have to be accepted everywhere in the world. Next, each country who plans to send a team has to have its own organization to choose its team members and enforce the worldwide rules. And secondly, the IOC is starting to think there are too many sports in the summer games already. That’s one reason why baseball and softball are out as of the 2012 Olympics. There’s a large mismatch in size between the summer and winter games – IOC would love to add more events to the winter games, which are kind of thin. That’s why freestyle skiing and snowboarding were added recently. But the summer games have gotten out of control, and I don’t think anything will be added to them for some time. Ed