# Which sports need to be ADDED to the Olympics? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 19, 2000, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741 "2000-09-19T17:03:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/1 "2000-09-19T17:03:34Z")
In other threads people have mentioned chess and golf. In the spirit of inclusiveness, what else should be included. I figure if ping pong is in, they oughtta just buy pool tables with convertable tops and have pocket billards as well. Maybe they could start a whole new Olympics - the rec room/backyard Olympics. They could include Croquet, Jarts, bocce, and darts. If the rec room/backyard games happen next year, between this summer’s games and the upcoming winter games, we’ll need another category for the fourth year. ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/2 "2000-09-19T17:20:39Z")
Don’t forget Holy Board. Maybe quarters? You could get _Official Olympic Flipping Disks_™. Slalom course for cars. Anything from the Kama Sutra…? Course, that would be scored objectively 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/3 "2000-09-19T17:20:47Z")
**PlayStation Gran Turismo II**. 'Nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/4 "2000-09-19T17:32:45Z")
Coldfire, you got my vote. I’ve always wanted to be an Olympic Gold Medal winner. I’d be a shoe in. 😉 I’d also like to see any and all variations of skateboarding included in the Olympic Games. And that includes _ **Tony Hawk Pro-Skater** _ on the Playstation, as well. Imagine, me with not one but two gold medals. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/5 "2000-09-19T17:40:39Z")
It has to be time for Rugby to be included. I presume there is a reason why it’s not at the Sydney Games (the Aussie’s being Rugby nuts) but there is the Rugby World Cup. Perhaps the powers that be think including it in the Olymics now would be bad timing as the World Cup is still a fairly recent development. However, there is a really strong international case for Rugby - can’t think of others just now apart from chess. I’d love to see that in the Games. ---
**Author:** ![tshirts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@tshirts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tshirts)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/6 "2000-09-19T17:44:29Z")
I’d like to see chess added. (I don’t want to watch- they could play in a hotel room in Iceland and phone it in for all that matters. Just so they print out the game at the end.) Then we could get a new champion every 4 years. Right now, if someone with the title does not want to compete, he can stall it forever. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/7 "2000-09-19T17:50:55Z")
I suppose I could bring myself to watch Cheerleading. ---
**Author:** ![Louie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Louie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Louie)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/8 "2000-09-19T17:52:35Z")
Anyone else thinking of that old SNL skit “Drug Olympics” when they saw this? I like to see tug-of-war come back in the Olympics. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/9 "2000-09-19T17:55:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dinsdale \* > In other threads people have mentioned chess and golf. In the spirit of inclusiveness, what else should be included. > > I figure if ping pong is in, they oughtta just buy pool tables with convertable tops and have pocket billards as well. Maybe they could start a whole new Olympics - the rec room/backyard Olympics. They could include Croquet, Jarts, bocce, and darts. You read my mind. Read my post in the “what sports hould come out”? thread. Billiards, golf and croquet should all be Olympic sports. Chess absolutely should NOT be in. It’s a game, not a sport. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/10 "2000-09-19T18:14:59Z")
**RUGBY** Absolutely. Why Australia didn’t make it a “special” sport this year, it’s beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/11 "2000-09-19T18:18:09Z")
Louie sed: “I like to see tug-of-war come back in the Olympics.” And don’t forget barrel-jumping! ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/12 "2000-09-19T18:58:32Z")
I vote for raquetball. And female hot oil wrestling :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/13 "2000-09-19T19:11:52Z")
I’d love to see midget-tossing. And willy wonking. Whoever can throw a boot full of beer the farthest and drink it down afterwards in the fastest time wins. MR ---
**Author:** ![Shaky\_Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Shaky\_Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shaky_Jake)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/14 "2000-09-19T19:17:17Z")
Disc Golf Shaky Jake ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/15 "2000-09-19T19:25:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > \*\*that includes _ **Tony Hawk Pro-Skater** _ on the Playstation, as well. Imagine, me with not one but two gold medals. \*\* You’d have to beat me first. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/16 "2000-09-19T19:53:14Z")
Synchronized fellating. Pole dancing. It’s like gymastics, but better. (muff diving was too obvious, but female “pole” vaulting could be interesting…) sorry folks, no frustration here, none at all, I’ll stop now ---
**Author:** ![Welfy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e56c9b/32.png) [@Welfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Welfy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/17 "2000-09-19T19:58:18Z")
Miniature golf. Calvinball!! ---
**Author:** ![PatrickM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7feea3/32.png) [@PatrickM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickM)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/18 "2000-09-19T20:04:46Z")
Sports to be added to the Olympics: 1. Air hockey 2. Pole dancing (good thinking, thinksnow!) 3. Full contact poetry 4. Howitzer target shooting 5. Stock car racing 6. Rickshaw racing 7. Commercial endorsement seeking ---
**Author:** ![Heath\_Doolin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Heath\_Doolin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heath_Doolin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/19 "2000-09-19T20:07:29Z")
Pinball Quarters (Gold for sure from anyone who was in my frat) Cat Shaving (Why? Because it’s there!) Seriously though, the Sex Olympics is a great idea. Everyone does it, There are few people with world class status, and if it was televised everyone would watch it and want to particpate! Someone should try to get this on the roster ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741/20 "2000-09-19T20:36:06Z")
I’m a bit nervous about discussing chess and rugby here, since there seem to be two related threads (and this one has extra fun ideas - I’m good at ‘TV watching’ myself!). Rugby is probably not played in enough countries yet to qualify for the Olympics. Chess is widely played, but it is impossible to follow unless you know the rules, and needs no physical skill. However it is highly competitive and completely skilful as a mind sport. As I said to RickyJay elsewhere (who has summed things up excellently with his ‘objective judging’ Olympic criteria), my problem is with the word ‘game’ used to describe chess. ‘Game’ sounds like something the whole family plays at Christmas, or something you play with your kids. Kasparov is playing a match next month in London for a prizefund of $2,000,000. There will be sixteen games, which could last 7 hours each. He’s been preparing for at least 2 months. A battery of commentators using computers will analyse every move. This is not a game! Ooooh, the women’s beach volleyball is on - must go! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-sports-need-to-be-added-to-the-olympics/33741.md?page=2)