I always thought the reason rugby and cricket were not included was the same reason baseball and grid iron football were not included i.e. Only a very few countries actually play those sports.
I always thought the reason rugby and cricket were not included was the same reason baseball and grid iron football were not included i.e. Only a very few countries actually play those sports.
Baseball has been included in the Olympics for some time, it was dropped for London because there are no baseball stadia in the UK. A lot of countries do play the game - mostly in the Americas, but also Japan. I'd guess that it's reach is about the same as handball.
Football stays in, traditional Olympic sport for about a century, a tournament the rest of the world cares about, and gets good numbers through the gates.
Football stays in, traditional Olympic sport for about a century, a tournament the rest of the world cares about, and gets good numbers through the gates.
As I said, football will never be dropped as it makes so much money, and also is easy to hold. Most countries have existing facilities, and unlike the World Cup you don't have to spend a fortune on iconic architecture (hence we can send footballers to Coventry of all places). And the next Olympics is in, ahem, Brazil!
Baseball was a bit of a joke as the best players weren't being released by the US leagues, so the standard wasn't good. By contrast the Basketball contest features all the best players in the world.
Comments
Out Football
Out: athletics
In Horse Conkers
Golf shouldn't be coming back is my one.
Out - any sport where the Olympics is not the pinnacle
Out: Horse things (unless they start giving the medals to the horses)
OUT Football & Tennis
Out : Football
Baseball was a bit of a joke as the best players weren't being released by the US leagues, so the standard wasn't good. By contrast the Basketball contest features all the best players in the world.
Out: Dressage.
Out: Cycling
Out: Athletics