For Olympic Pool to exist...

[u12armresl]

I'm sorry but, if you think seeing 2 minutes of a marathon and "you've seen it all" then you are sorely mistaken.

There is so much that goes into running it's literally incredible.
Guess the Tour De France is the same after 2 minutes also, don't mind the mountain or sprint trials, it's just cycling.

Maybe I'm old fashioned (i'm 22 btw) but I grew up with a whole other idea about Olympics...

First of all: Why would you want pool to be an Olympic sport? For recognition of the players? Last time I checked, there are world caliber tournaments, there is a "Hall of Fame", and we all know the world class players.

The more I read this thread the more I dissagree with your logic. "Only 9 ball is fast enough for TV". Oh, the Olympics are for the TV now huh? Is this why they have sports like, oh I don't know, Marathon running?? One race takes HOURS to complete. And not only that, if you watch 2 minutes you have seen it all, it is people running non stop. That's it, period.

In my mind, as much as I love pool, it is NOT an Olympic sport. And I disagree with comments like "oh, this other boring "sport" is in the Olympics, why not pool too??" I agree with you that there are other sports that (in my mind) they shouldn't be in the Olympics, but my solution to this is not to add more to the list..

 

[Majic]

If pool came to the Olympics, and it was Eight-Ball, I wouldn't watch it. Why would I want to? I don't play it, much less watch it at my local pool room.
One Pocket, now that I'd watch. :smile:

do you watch any of the Olympics?

 

[KAP1976]

If pool came to the Olympics, and it was Eight-Ball, I wouldn't watch it. Why would I want to? I don't play it, much less watch it at my local pool room.
One Pocket, now that I'd watch. :smile:

One pocket televised on the Olympics would set pool back 50 years.

 

[AlienObserver]

I'm sorry but, if you think seeing 2 minutes of a marathon and "you've seen it all" then you are sorely mistaken.

There is so much that goes into running it's literally incredible.
Guess the Tour De France is the same after 2 minutes also, don't mind the mountain or sprint trials, it's just cycling.

I know that you can't say you've seen a Marathon if you watch only 2 minutes, I was exaggerating. I was speaking like a viewer who can't watch 10 ball for exaple because "it's not as fast paced for TV and you need a wow factor" and stuff like other users have said in this thread. If the average viewer is this way, what makes you think that when they see 9 ball on TV they wont say "omg this is so boring they just pot balls".

I love pool. I love playing pool and I love watching it. I wish it will grow bigger and bigger, I wish there will be broadcasted on TV regulalry. But in my eyes it is NOT an Olympic sport.

 

[FranCrimi]

pool and snooker is under consideration for tokyo 2020. However, the olympic committee only adds so many new sports, and there's a few that are ahead of pool in terms of popularity, like baseball. Fingers crossed though, will do wonders for the game i think

Sorry to burst your bubble but this has been the exact situation since 1996 when pool was first accepted as an Olympic game. There are always just a few sports ahead of cue sports in line for acceptance into future Olympic games.

I'm not sure why new sports keep coming in ahead of us but I suspect it has to do with money. It's always about money.

 

[Saturated Fats]

Interesting question...

This is something I haven't thought about before. What size tables are common in Europe? Asia? Are bar boxes common anywhere besides North America?

 

[vjmehra]

This is something I haven't thought about before. What size tables are common in Europe? Asia? Are bar boxes common anywhere besides North America?

Not in my experience, but I live in the UK, so others may be better placed to comment.

I have seen the odd bar box in Germany and I seem to recall Holland, but nowhere else (as I say perhaps it's because I've not spent enough time in other places).

In Eastern Europe I've only found 8/9 footers.

In India I've only ever seen snooker tables and 9 footers.

Here in the UK pubs will traditionally have darts and one or more 7 foot English pool table (but there are fewer and fewer pubs with tables now). Clubs tend to have a few snooker tables and generally 9 foot pool tables (I have never seen a US bar box in the UK). Some clubs will have a few English pool tables too, it all depends what's popular in the local area.

My understanding of the commonwealth countries is that they tend to have 7 foot English tables and some snooker tables (again I base this on what I've seen, I may be wrong).

I think if there was/is a US base located somewhere US pool took off, if not then it's more likely to be one of the British games (or something else completely)!

 

[Blunoser]

If you analyze the Olympics you conclude that it is elitist. The rifles start at about $3,000, the bows are also expensive and most competitors have honed their skills in college competition. I'm not suggesting this is a bad thing but pool is primarily a blue collar sport.

In this country the lack of support for pool will soon put US players in the dust. Look at the world rankings. If there were well funded open tournaments in the US we would be dominated by Asian and Filipino players. Certainly we have some competitive pros today but 20 years from now, unless there is a huge change in the supporting young player programs, it will get very difficult to find a pool room to play in.

The US, about 1200 pool rooms, 600,000 league players, about 25,000 tables
China, about 100,000 pool room millions of players, 1.5 million tables.
It's about the pool community pulling together to grow the sport, lets hear some opinions about how likely that is.

 

[Blunoser]

The sport needs help

If you analyze the Olympics you conclude that it is elitist. The rifles start at about $3,000, the bows are also expensive and most competitors have honed their skills in college competition. I'm not suggesting this is a bad thing but pool is primarily a blue collar sport.

In this country the lack of support for pool will soon put US players in the dust. Look at the world rankings. If there were well funded open tournaments in the US we would be dominated by Asian and Filipino players. Certainly we have some competitive pros today but 20 years from now, unless there is a huge change in the supporting young player programs, it will get very difficult to find a pool room to play in.

The US, about 1200 pool rooms, 600,000 league players, about 25,000 tables
China, about 100,000 pool room millions of players, 1.5 million tables.
It's about the pool community pulling together to grow the sport, lets hear some opinions about how likely that is.

 

[SJDinPHX]

If you analyze the Olympics you conclude that it is elitist. The rifles start at about $3,000, the bows are also expensive and most competitors have honed their skills in college competition. I'm not suggesting this is a bad thing but pool is primarily a blue collar sport...<--I believe pool tables start at around 5K, so I don't see how that is relevant?

the scoring for gymnastics is complex, but people still watch.

9 ball, in comparison, is not that difficult to comprehend- basically you just have to shoot the balls in order

Yes, you can watch and enjoy gymnastics, but unless you are a judge, you don't need to be concerned with scoring..I agree, 9ball is very easily understood, but 8ball is universally played and accepted, at least ten times more.

I believe it was Tramp who said he would not watch a major event, if the game being played was 8ball..He said he would much prefer to watch one pocket..Well, so would I..but we may be the only two watching.

If pool is to ever be accepted, especially in the Olympics, it has got to be the most commonly played game in order to have any chance at all of succeeding!..I challenge you to find someone who has 'never' heard of 8ball, and 95% of them will know the basic rules!

PS..I am not a huge fan of the game myself, but if we are ever to attract big $$$ sponsors, we have got to sell them something they already understand!

 

[vjmehra]

Yes, you can watch and enjoy gymnastics, but unless you are a judge, you don't need to be concerned with scoring..I agree, 9ball is very easily understood, but 8ball is universally played and accepted, at least ten times more.

I believe it was Tramp who said he would not watch a major event, if the game being played was 8ball..He said he would much prefer to watch one pocket..Well, so would I..but we may be the only two watching.

If pool is to ever be accepted, in the Olympics for instance, it has got to be the most commonly played game in order to have any chance at all of succeeding!..I challenge you to find someone who has 'never' heard of 8ball, and 95% of them will know the basic rules!

PS..I am not a huge fan of the game myself, but if we are ever to attract big $$$ sponsors, we have to sell them something they already understand!

You may be right, but it's worth noting the only pool discipline shown live by a major producer (Matchroom) on western TV networks (and also of course owned by Barry Hearn who knows a thing or two about cue sports) is 9-Ball.

There is simply no way that's luck...a lot of thought went into the choice of game (well I'd guess it did).

 

[SJDinPHX]

You may be right, but it's worth noting the only pool discipline shown live by a major producer (Matchroom) on western TV networks (and also of course owned by Barry Hearn who knows a thing or two about cue sports) is 9-Ball.

There is simply no way that's luck...a lot of thought went into the choice of game (well I'd guess it did).

Barry Hearn is an expert businessman..He has done very well at promoting snooker, and he does OK with 9ball..Who knows where we'd be with 8ball, If the IPT had not got shot down in its infancy?..Mike Sigel wisely convinced Trudeau, to make 8ball their only game, because of its overwhelming popularity! ..Actually, its all kind of a needless debate, because the IPT proved that Pool pro's will play ANY game that offers big $$$ purses!

PS..Can't really blame them can you?..There are only a handful able to make a living at pool

 

[vjmehra]

Barry Hearn is an expert businessman..He has done very well at promoting snooker, and he does OK with 9ball..Who knows where we'd be with 8ball, If the IPT had not got shot down in its infancy?..Mike Sigel wisely convinced Trudeau, to make 8ball their only game, because of its overwhelming popularity! ..Actually, its all kind of a needless debate, because the IPT proved that Pool pro's will play ANY game that offers big $$$ purses!

That was never in doubt!

It's all about what people will watch.

I totally agree people are more familiar with 8-Ball, but I feel 9-Ball is more watchable.

Here In the UK at least, people tend to perceive US 8-Ball as to easy and I think it would struggle to gain much attention. 9-Ball is harder (maybe not for pro's, but for the average club player) hence attracts more attention, also of course we have our own version of 8-Ball which now has a (sort of) pro tour, so I struggle to see US 8-Ball getting much attention.

Of course globally it may be different, but my choice for TV would always be 9-Ball.

 

[arps]

This is something I haven't thought about before. What size tables are common in Europe? Asia? Are bar boxes common anywhere besides North America?

In the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, China and Japan, 9-footers are the standard. not sure with the other Asian countries.

 

[Mr. Bond]

Some of you guys make this harder than it needs to be.
Good production and presentation can make just about anything good on tv.
I have proof. lol but not even kidding.

The last time pool was hitting home runs, true home runs on tv was back with Mosconi vs Fats and people couldn't turn away from the screen. Its a fact.

What's different today?
Hint: it's not the game.

#1 presentation and production
( which you will never get from Joe Blow streamer)
#2 the characters aren't interesting, they're asshats.
( how many does espn really want on TV)
#3 whens that pro tour again? I seemed to have missed the dates.

Baby steps.
Build a professional pool association with standards and regulations
Produce and present its events professionally..
...then let's talk olympics

 

[jchance]

If we can have a cue sport in the Olympics, pool could stake a good case as being the most international. After all, elite snooker players all come from a small handful of different countries, so there wouldn't be a lot of interest outside of those. on the other hand, there would be realistic gold medal candidates in pool from a wide range of countries across the world.

I would go with 9-ball as the game involves a more impressive array of different shots than 8 ball. It may be less well known than 8 ball but it's hardly difficult to understand even for someone who doesn't know anything about the game.

Finally, watching some of the Olympics at the moment, you can see similarities with other precision sports like archery and shooting. So even if pool doesn't require intense physical activity, I think it could still have its place in the Games!

 

[ghost ball]

For pool to exist in the Olympics, Track and Field will have to be discontinued.

 

[Blunoser]

You may be right but from the point of view of our sport, it is a critical necessity. Our sport is in decline in the US and the Olympics would be the perfect venue to give it the exposure we need by introducing cue sports to the general public.

 

[Johnnyt]

China or one of the oil countries will get pool in by paying the right people off. Rio...what a joke. Johnnyt

 

[SJDinPHX]

China or one of the oil countries will get pool in by paying the right people off. Rio...what a joke. Johnnyt

JT..I believe that an 'oil country' like Quatar (or Dubai) will always have problems attracting international player participation!..Unless they can start offering multi-million dollar purses, no one can stand the expense of travelling to their isolated locations!..Yes, Rio is a joke, but so is the middle east!

US or European locations have a much better chance to attract Olympic consideration..But again, one problem will always remain..As long as there is no Pro player association, or world wide governing entity to negotiate with, that just can't happen!..Until that changes, pool can never become a viable Olympic event! :frown: