Why no pool in the Olympics?

michael4 said:
agreed, too many "sports" and "events" in the Olumpics already.

If one swimmer wins 8 gold medals, WAY TOO many swimming events.

Thats like having a gold medal in basketball for best team in a "48 minute" game, another gold for best team in a "40 minute" game, best team in a "60 minute game", etc, - the same team would win 8 gold medals in basketball !

Next, DROP all sports that already have solid PRO leagues!!! why the hell do we need to see Kobe Bryant and Venus Williams in the Olympics! I prefer to see amatuers!
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The pros are in there because they are the best, and because its too difficult to stop countries from cheating. When all we sent were "amateurs", many nations were sending pro's, athletes who were paid by their government to play and train.

Now, go ahead. Send the best, period.
 
Bob Jewett said:
Pool (actually cue sports) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a sport. The recognized world governing body is the WCBS. Pool, carom billiards and snooker are included in the World Games. The World Games are like the Summer Olympics but they include those recognized sports that are not in the Olympics, such as (I think) judo.

There will something over 10,000 athletes at the London Olympics. That's as many as the IOC and organizers want to deal with. Until something leaves, it is very unlikely that another sport will get in. In the latest adjustment, baseball (and softball?) left and 7-a-side rugby (?) got in.

In the past I think the host country had some influence in what sports got added. Also, there used to be "demonstration" sports but the last I heard those were dropped as being a distraction from the normal events.

I think there are about 64 cue sports players at the World Games events, which I think is 16 each in 3-cushion, snooker, men's and women's nine ball.
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I think the Olympics Committee should sub-contract some of the sports that is not represented in the Olympics to a reputable sports organizer and re-label as World Olympic event, The Crucible Theater, is very reputable and well known well organized place in England, or maybe to Barry Barman US Open event re-label Olympic Open, after all almost all countries are represented in it , he does great job organizing such event. Just a thought.
 
Pool almost made it into the Olympics

Then the IOC watched the latest episode of Herman University on YouTube and the rest is history...thanks a lot Marty :outtahere:

Wedge
 
Jobba786 said:
Pool, snooker, carom could be a part of the Winter Olympics. Easier to get a spot there, I would guess. Less sports there than in the Summer Olympics.
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Good idea Jobba, because pool is more popular in the winter time also I could add.
 
I always thought that the Olympics should be about individual athletes, not team sports. Like the runner, swimmer, fighter/wrestler etc. I like alot of the things that have been introduced over the years but I think it has gotten a little out of hand.

I have a friend that competed in bobsledding in the 1972 games, he wasn't even an athlete and he would be the first to tell you that. He was just 1 of 4 guys from an air force base that was in the right spot at the right time. For what it's worth they flipped over and were DQ'ed!

By the way, I do like watching the bobsled events so don't flame me for that!
 
There is little hope for cue sports to be included in the Olympics. They removed softball for crying out loud.

Here in the US there are hundreds of organized youth softball leagues with thousands and thousands of new players each year.

I think the biggest problem with softball is that USA dominated too much.

If cue sports were ever to enter the Olympics I would think that it would be snooker.
 
Billyard said:
...
I think the biggest problem with softball is that USA dominated too much. ..
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The other way to say this is that softball is only played in the US. One of the selection criteria is that the sport has to be popular or at least have competitions in many countries. Cue sports are far, far more popular and widespread than softball.

Another factor that the IOC weights heavily is whether women also compete for international championships. Pool has that more or less covered.
 
olympic billiards

Pool could become the only olympic sport to have safty play, Ithink ?
 
ejasons said:
Gerda Hofstatter recently competed in the finals of an event, while being six months pregnant.

That should explain why pool isn't an Olympic sport...
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:confused:
http://www.newser.com/story/150408/malaysian-is-most-pregnant-olympian-ever.html

Malaysian shooting champ Nur Suryani Mohamed isn't just the first pregnant woman to compete in a summer Olympics since 1920, she's so far along that she may become the first person to give birth at the Games. The 29-year-old athlete, who discovered that she was pregnant just two days before she qualified for the women's 10-meter air rifle event and will be eight months pregnant when she competes...

previous pregnant ...Olympian

Sweden's Magda Julin, who won gold in figure skating in 1920, when it was still a summer sport.

German skeleton racer took fourth in the 2006 Winter Olympics while in her first trimester,

Canadian curler Kristie Moore was five months pregnant at Vancouver 2010
 
Good Point

Bob Jewett said:
I think soccer (or as they call it, "football") qualifies as having safety play.
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I can hear the British announcer "It is two to nil four hours into the match"! Who would have ever expected this scoring frenzy!
 
ejasons said:
Gerda Hofstatter recently competed in the finals of an event, while being six months pregnant.

That should explain why pool isn't an Olympic sport...
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On the other hand, she could play in the curling games, pregant even :smile:
 
westcoast said:
I don't know if this has been discussed before, but I think it would be great if pool were an Olympic sport. I wonder if it has ever been considered?
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Cause they already have a Special Olympics.:)If they did drug tests and no alcohol,it would look like a big
jitter fest with a bunch of guys chewing on there finger nails and swearing.
 

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Pool would have to become very mainstream rather than somwhat of a sideshow to become an Olympic sport. Granted, there is interest in pool, but beyond the leagues, circuits, and bar actvity, its probably not enough to garner an Olympic sport.
 
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