Social networking for inline skaters

Roller Sports Rejected ... Again

The IOC Executive Committee voted today to recommend that golf and rugby be added to the 2016 Olympic Games, once again dashing the hopes of inline skaters.

Few details of the vote were available yet.

The Executive Committee met in Berlin to decide on two sports to recommend for Olympic inclusion. Golf was widely viewed as the front runner, due to its ability to draw TV rating based on the star power of golfers like Tiger Wood. Rugby is known to be a favorite of the I.O.C. president, Jacques Rogge.

In voting for golf and rugby, the committee rejected the bids of five other sports, including roller sports, karate, squash, baseball and softball.

Roller sports had proposed a series of five races over three days, starting with sprints and ended with a marathon.

Roller sports was one of the sports considered for Olympic inclusion in the 2012 Games. But all five sports were rejected and baseball and softball were thrown out.

Here's the story from the New York Times:

Here's the IOC press release:

The IOC Executive Board proposes 2 additional sports for the 2016 Games: Golf and Rugby

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) proposed today the list of 26 core sports and 2 additional sports, golf and rugby, to be included in the 2016 Olympic Programme. The proposal will be submitted to the full IOC for a final decision at its Session in Copenhagen in October, where golf and rugby will have the opportunity to present. Seven sports — baseball, golf, karate, roller sports, rugby, softball and squash — were seeking to enter the Olympic programme. The secret ballot vote by the EB followed an extensive evaluation by the Olympic Programme Commission of the potential added value to the Games from each of the seven sports.

“All seven sports made a strong case for inclusion, and the EB carefully evaluated them in a transparent and fair process. In the end, the decision came down to which two would add the most value,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge, who elected not to take part in the vote. “Golf and rugby will be a great addition to the Games.”

The key factors in determining a sport’s suitability for the Olympic programme include youth appeal, universality, popularity, good governance, respect for athletes and respect for the Olympic values.

“Golf and rugby scored high on all the criteria,” Rogge said. “They have global appeal, a geographically diverse line-up of top iconic athletes and an ethic that stresses fair play.”

During the 119th Session in Guatemala in 2007, the IOC approved a simplified voting process for new sport to enter the programme. The IOC members also requested guidance from the EB in the selection of the new sports, and entrusted it to make a proposal based on the work of the Olympic Programme Commission.

All seven sports had a chance to make their case to the Olympic Programme Commission in November 2008 and to the IOC EB in June 2009. Federations were also able to review their section of the report submitted to the EB.

Tags: olympics

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by R(O)(O)(O)(O)ger-Photo by J.Kent on August 13, 2009 at 9:31am: We will see many more of our top inliners making the jump to ice for this is again a low blow to our sport. We are such a small segment with out Television exposure for the masses to see us. maybe Europe and Asia can get better coverage by the media. R(O)(O)(O)(O)ger; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robert Burnson on August 13, 2009 at 11:04am: Of course, this was no surprise. The IOC cares more about money and TV ratings than athleticism and sportsmanship. The IOC earns most of its revenue through TV broadcast rights. It can earn a lot more with Tiger Woods and rugby, which fills stadiums in the UK and parts of Asia, than it can with inline speed skating.

Show me the money, the IOC said. Golf and rugby delivered. ... Can't help but feel disappointed, though.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Chris Howley on August 13, 2009 at 12:04pm: Bummer; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bill in Houston on August 13, 2009 at 7:20pm: rugby has global appeal? rugby is bigger than skating for the 2 billion people who live in asia? golf being in the olympics would be an embarassment.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ben Roberts on August 14, 2009 at 4:57am: I'm sorry to say this but GOOD, perhaps we can get back to grass roots now. Olympic ambitions were always ridiculously above skating's undervalued place in the sporting firmament. There currently is no grass roots because everyone's forgotten that to get new speed-skaters you need people skating in the park. The vast majority of skaters don’t aspire to ramps, races, pucks or cones, their achievable challenge is smooth graceful balanced dynamic motion – to be able to skate the simple stuff well. From there they can and will choose what next, which skates and how competitive...

It's time we stood up and made a real claim for the superiority of inline skating over ice, after all, it's way more complicated at the fundamental level - ice is flat and smooth, simple. Long after ice rinks become extinct due to the environmental anomaly they represent, inline will rightfully take its place amongst the Olympic rings. But not without grass roots, not without recreational skaters in the parks and on the trails. Isn't it time our sport got back to just encouraging and helping people to inline skate?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ann Ledesma on August 14, 2009 at 2:05pm: Golf has youth appeal???? Sure it does (ha ha ha). My advice to the roller sports committees is this: - send the female skaters out dressed (?) like the beach volleyballettes and see how fast roller sports are snapped up.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mr. T on August 15, 2009 at 9:26am: Bill in Houston said:
rugby has global appeal? rugby is bigger than skating for the 2 billion people who live in asia? golf being in the olympics would be an embarassment.

I agree 110%. Golf is as much a sport as chess or checkers is. I played golf in the past (a think you kinda of a have to do in some lines of work).. most waisted time in my life. And I was not even that bad shooting around 85 per round. Probably, during the Olympics there will be the guy or the girl on the cart serving beers and liquours to the players.
Rugby might have an appeal and it is definitely at sport. But WTF is rugby 7 ? Just play the real rugby with 15 players, the scrum and all the big men.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mr. T on August 15, 2009 at 9:35am: The decision has absolutely nothing to do the criteria for admissions that were stated, youth appeal, unversality, popularity, good governance, etc.. The SOB's at IOC just looked for the money factor. And nothing else. Golf has youth appeal? Where? When? Most of the players are high income men with big guts who smoke cigars and drink beer before, during, and after the round of golf (mostly done on electric carts for walking is too tiring) . And mostly the green fees get charged to corporate accounts.

On the other hand, inline skating has a few faults of its own. Too many races and none of them gets the visibility required. It is time to have fewer races and the players in this industry have to find a way to put together a few high cash prize races. Nobody wants to read about a race where if you win you take home a few hundred dollars. But if the first prize were $100k or so it would be different. It is a lot of money, but if skating made into the Olympics they would have had a great return on their investment. Right now, likely we will continue as we are with more old skaters than young ones. Races with 1-200 skaters will do squat to expose our sports in a positive manner. I was in Napa at the end of June and felt really lonely and insignificat when such a beautiful venue can only muster 120 skaters.

Disappointed. But, IOC decided the way it did using only money as a parameter and nothing else. And if they say otherwise they are just lying. Any reasonable person can see that they sold themselves to whoever can bring more money and TV coverage (which usually goes where the most money is as well). That is all the Olympics are about these days...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Hoffmonster on August 15, 2009 at 10:11am: Wow, such negativity pertaining to golf. I'm going to defend it's appeal for a moment, and I do so as an avid golfer, and and avid skater. I'm pretty good @ both. So I have a perspective that seems to be in the minority here. The game appealed to me at an early age (late teens), and still does today.
As far as youth appeal. if there is no youth appeal, why do most high schools, and colleges have golf programs? If there were no youth appeal, this would not be the case. Look at the crowds @ tourneys on TV. Look at the diversity of those crowds. Look @ the numbers of places to play it around the country. the appeal is there. I assure you of that. It also has a ton of money behind it.
Don't kill the messenger, but I think the emotion displayed here is personal opinion, and in no way is it reflective of the reality that golf is a sport, and has far wider appeal, for other reasons than does skating. They were added because of money no doubt about it. All the bitching moaning, and the putting down golf or the people who it appeals to will not get skating into the games. As far as Rugby goes, I won't talk much about it, because I don't know much about it. I'm surprised anyone thought roller sports had any shot at all to become a Olympic sport. Just my .02.. My flame suit is on, so feel free to flame me if you want.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Derek Mantyla on August 15, 2009 at 1:40pm: I too am a golfer and I agree with Hoffmonster.My question is who is going to be involved in Olympic golf? The worlds touring pros?Golf has appeal but the top pros already have 4 majors and numerous other tournaments.I don't see much appeal in watching these same men play in yet another competition.

Olympic ice hockey will never be exciting like it was in 1980 because now it's all the top NHL players.I find basketball the same,Boring!

The olympics for me is about watching sports that I don't see year round like swimming,gymnastics,diving,ski jumping ,luge,and other sports that just don't get much T.V. coverage .I guess that is what makes the olympics special to me.I know there are some main stream sporting events that are in the Olympics but those are the ones I don't care about or watch.I like golf but if Olympic golf consists of Tiger,Phil,Padrig,Sergio,etc. it won't have much appeal to me.

I can only hope that someday Roller sports will find its place in the Olmpics.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mr. T on August 15, 2009 at 3:28pm: I stick with my opinion that golf is not more of a sport then chess or checkers, and more something you do with friends smoking a cigar, drinking a beer and talking about business or the newest car or girlfriend.
As far as the number of golf courses, do not be misled by what happens in the US. There are not so many like in the US around the world. Quite the opposite, Except perhaps in the UK.
And, as far as college golf is concerned, it is probably financed by the football team like many other college sports. The youth appeal is a scholarship that they would never get otherwise.
The diversity in the crowd only came around with Tiger Woods, but up to the time I never saw any real diversity . Up to 2005 when I quit golf, I pretty much only the same corporate or semi-corporate crowds, in particular at the best courses. Once that I dared to suggest we actually walk instead of using the cart, the other 3 players look at like me as if I were a criminal, so big is the "sport" part in golf.
Many countries cannot afford to waste all that land and water to create golf courses. While I am a US citizen I was born in Italy. If I wanted to play golf there, there is no public course and to me the cheapest option would have been a $25k/year fee to join the closest and most run-down of the local country clubs, the best country club would have been a whooping $50k as they have a closed number of members (still do) allowed.
Where we agree is that golf is in the Olympics only for one real reason: money. Good for them, they did manage to get the money in there. But, to me, that does not make it a sport.
And rugby 7 is an abherration of the real rugby. They should have had either rugby union or rugby league at worst. Why they came up with rugby 7 totally escapes my comprehension. In rugby at least they run and sweat.
Too bad.. but I will survive: all I have to do is to switch channel when they show golf like I do already.
Besides it is not clear at all how they will select the players: most countries do not play golf.. Are we going to have 1 representative for each country in the world where they play? Will they have 20 US players 10 British, 5 Spanish, 2 South Africans, 1 Japanese and about another 10 players from the rest of the world. It is really going to be fun to watch.. Really a universal sport. But, then there are a lot of sports in the Olympics that are really totally uninteresting.. why not golf?

Hoffmonster said:
Wow, such negativity pertaining to golf. I'm going to defend it's appeal for a moment, and I do so as an avid golfer, and and avid skater. I'm pretty good @ both. So I have a perspective that seems to be in the minority here. The game appealed to me at an early age (late teens), and still does today.
As far as youth appeal. if there is no youth appeal, why do most high schools, and colleges have golf programs? If there were no youth appeal, this would not be the case. Look at the crowds @ tourneys on TV. Look at the diversity of those crowds. Look @ the numbers of places to play it around the country. the appeal is there. I assure you of that. It also has a ton of money behind it.
Don't kill the messenger, but I think the emotion displayed here is personal opinion, and in no way is it reflective of the reality that golf is a sport, and has far wider appeal, for other reasons than does skating. They were added because of money no doubt about it. All the bitching moaning, and the putting down golf or the people who it appeals to will not get skating into the games. As far as Rugby goes, I won't talk much about it, because I don't know much about it. I'm surprised anyone thought roller sports had any shot at all to become a Olympic sport. Just my .02.. My flame suit is on, so feel free to flame me if you want.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ben Roberts on August 15, 2009 at 8:04pm: Enough with golf already. It's not about golf, it's about the fact that inline skating is on the floor and has been for years. It's not just about speed skating either, aggressive got kicked out of the XGames years ago.

When was the last time any of you actually just skated around a park for fun with a bunch of beginners (many of whom aspire to freestyle slalom) without worrying how many miles you'd covered or how long you skated for? When was the the last time you skated backward?

I believe inline skating is easy to rebuild BUT you are going to have to learn to skate differently/properly... No more typing with two fingers, it's time to touch-type. In other words, stop walking with wheels under your feet and start skating with your whole body. The double push shouldn't be a mythical thing, it should be a natural part of your skating technique regardless of what speed OR direction you are going...; ▶ Reply to This