Will Cue Sports become part of the Olimpics? If so, how soon?
Why no Olympic Billiards?
- Thread starter Delaware Lar
- Start date
The quick reply would be; No
The Olympic committee is still trimming events in order to be more TV friendly and get the necessary funds to support the more popular events it already has.
Billiards and Pocket Billiards were once part of the world games and IIRC Janette Lee took the Gold for the Woman's events.
I doubt it is likely in the very near future (next 25-30 years; that is only 7 or so Olympics) that Billiards will have a chance. Even Baseball is no longer an Olympic sport and Baseball is way more popular than Billiards.
But, stranger things have happened.
The Olympic committee is still trimming events in order to be more TV friendly and get the necessary funds to support the more popular events it already has.
Billiards and Pocket Billiards were once part of the world games and IIRC Janette Lee took the Gold for the Woman's events.
I doubt it is likely in the very near future (next 25-30 years; that is only 7 or so Olympics) that Billiards will have a chance. Even Baseball is no longer an Olympic sport and Baseball is way more popular than Billiards.
But, stranger things have happened.
Every year I have lived in AZ, it is part of the Senior Olympics, but is not a National Senior Olympics GAME YET!!!!!!:smile:
Quite simply, pool/billiards does not have the money to pay for the cocaine, strippers, and cash bribes necessary to IOC members to get it into the Olympics.
Really, I don't understand why pool isn't an olympic sport. There are PLENTY of events that have less physical demand, less popularity globally, less tv friendly. It's hard to compare pool to hockey or the 100 meter dash but you can't tell me that curling or badminton have the world's attention.
The last time we had this discussion, I was left with the impression that besides other issues, the lack of a SINGLE governing body and set of rules was also holding us back from consideration by the IOC. A minor sub-set of that issue was the ways to select who would represent the country - qualifier systems or tournaments if you will.
IIRC, FWIW
IIRC, FWIW
We could name all the sports in the world we don't think should be in the olympics before pool but I'm pretty sure the plain fact of the matter is.
Why in the world would the IOC want to promote a sport populated by a bunch of fat smoking degenerates. (perception only)
Personally, I think Pool should be in the olympics. Ribbon twirling and figure skating (while very athletic) are very subjective in judging, should get the boot.
Oh yeah and Jude, Curling is huge in most normal countries........
Why in the world would the IOC want to promote a sport populated by a bunch of fat smoking degenerates. (perception only)
Personally, I think Pool should be in the olympics. Ribbon twirling and figure skating (while very athletic) are very subjective in judging, should get the boot.
Oh yeah and Jude, Curling is huge in most normal countries........
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besides from the governing body issues and rules issues and such, pool isn't a very olympic style event.
The olympics are all about legitimate competition, camaraderie etc....the game in general has too bad an image to be in the olympics. Which is why we need to spend time and money on afterschool programs.
How long did it take them to instill the Xgames style events into the winter/summer games?
Even those guys/gals have a better image. And in the olympics image is EVERYTHING. Its the representation of the best that human kind has to offer in ability and sportsmanship. We have much ability, but horrible sportsmanship.
Stick to pushing the programs for kids, unify the governing bodies. That would do more for the game than the olympics ever would.
People in the game need to quit thinking that if they can pull off the hail mary and get the game into the olympics that it would cure everything and save the game. Get real its not a cure all. You don't get in shape by taking a pill you have to fix and work your body properly. The olympics wont save or change the game, the game has to fix and change itself from within IE: THE PLAYERS/Governing Bodies/Billiards Companies must change it.
I love the olympics and the sport of billiards but I don't think we have the right to be there....not yet. Thats something you have to earn and we have not earned it, not even close.
The only way we will see it in the games anytime soon is if they have a summer olympics in the phillipines....just don't hold your breath lol.
maybe someday,
Grey Ghost
The olympics are all about legitimate competition, camaraderie etc....the game in general has too bad an image to be in the olympics. Which is why we need to spend time and money on afterschool programs.
How long did it take them to instill the Xgames style events into the winter/summer games?
Even those guys/gals have a better image. And in the olympics image is EVERYTHING. Its the representation of the best that human kind has to offer in ability and sportsmanship. We have much ability, but horrible sportsmanship.
Stick to pushing the programs for kids, unify the governing bodies. That would do more for the game than the olympics ever would.
People in the game need to quit thinking that if they can pull off the hail mary and get the game into the olympics that it would cure everything and save the game. Get real its not a cure all. You don't get in shape by taking a pill you have to fix and work your body properly. The olympics wont save or change the game, the game has to fix and change itself from within IE: THE PLAYERS/Governing Bodies/Billiards Companies must change it.
I love the olympics and the sport of billiards but I don't think we have the right to be there....not yet. Thats something you have to earn and we have not earned it, not even close.
The only way we will see it in the games anytime soon is if they have a summer olympics in the phillipines....just don't hold your breath lol.
maybe someday,
Grey Ghost
I didn't verify my facts, but I seem to remember that Pool is an "approved" sport by the IOC. I believe it got approval to be included a few years ago. Thing is, many sports are "approved" but aside from the core sports, it's up to the host country to pick the "secondary" sports for that year.
Eric
Eric
Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but don't most countries (other than the US) have some sort of organized governing body for their players, and the way they qualify their players for international competition? Seems to me the lack of a single governing body HERE in the US is what could be holding it back, as it would likely take the pressure from the US to get any sport accepted into the Olympics.
So far as being a good fit for the Olympics, I believe it is. It doesn't require subjective judging, just officiating. It doesn't require any special structure to be built to house the games (no stadiums, tracks, pools, or courses necessary). It is a sport played worldwide. It is TV friendly, so far as production resources are concerned.
I would think that the Olympics would be interested in seeing far more organization of national championships, not only in the US, but abroad, before pool would be considered. Structure, both in governing and championship play, would be necessary well before elevating it to Olympic status.
In my little ole opinion.
I'd still argue that pool is bigger than curling. I'm fascinated to know where these "normal" countries are.
I'd like to see pool in there. Pool is played by millions of people while these other sports aren't. That's how i look at it.
I also like curling !
lol
I also like curling !
lol
Just look North buddy, just look north.
Last I checked, there's only one country north of us. Are you telling me there's more?
I have no problem with popularity of some of these olympic sports. I mean, I never go javalining but I consider that event to be important. However, they keep introducing these new events that nobody ever does. Some of these events are fast, some are beautiful, many are incredibly difficult. It's just getting to a point where I feel like they're practically making stuff up. I mean, I'd love to see a zero-gravity olympic sport but I'm not sure it's necessarily appropriate. Pool just seems to fit so well. The whole world plays, no country could easily be catagorized as winner. It's popularity as a spectator sport in Asia is amazing. What's the problem?
The Olympics is Not Our Goal
Why should we aspire to have competitors in the Olympics? They don't deserve us. Pool and Billiard Games have been played competitively for over 100 years,long before the Modern Olympiad began. I worked with John Lewis at the BCA. A gentleman who has devoted more than the last 20 years of his life dedicated to developing the Olympic Idea for Cue Sports. The WPA and the WCBS have been granted "provisional status" some years ago. Unfortunately,a select few countries in the IOC have control over new admittance.Other sports have been in this process for years,and they will have their day long before pool. That's the why the X-Games(Snowboarding/Freestyle were accepted a lot faster than other applicants. I have maintained for some time the Sport of Pool must become a self standing entity worldwide. There needs to be a true World Congress for Pool. One without a higher goal than to offer the pool player their opportunity to achieve a World Championship through a legitimate process. We don't need to join the Olympics. Unfortunately,I feel the WPA and WCBS have used all their energy in that regard,and yet,we are still wanting.
Pool Must be made available to every Jr.High/Middle School as a Sport/Physical Education Curricula.
Same for High Schools.
Expanded Support of the ACUI for Colleges.
Pool Clubs along the lines of the Europeans targeted for smaller communities(where most of our future growth will come from).
Coaching Opportunities for Teachers with Competitive Individuals and Teams.
Ownership of Professional Players as Individuals and Teams.(NFL,MLB,etc.)
Outside of the Billiard Industry Sponsorship from the Local to Worldwide Level.(Tennis is a pretty good example)
A True World Championship. p.s. and if a Gov't pulls a political ploy like what happened in Germany,severe fines and suspensions!!
Why should we aspire to have competitors in the Olympics? They don't deserve us. Pool and Billiard Games have been played competitively for over 100 years,long before the Modern Olympiad began. I worked with John Lewis at the BCA. A gentleman who has devoted more than the last 20 years of his life dedicated to developing the Olympic Idea for Cue Sports. The WPA and the WCBS have been granted "provisional status" some years ago. Unfortunately,a select few countries in the IOC have control over new admittance.Other sports have been in this process for years,and they will have their day long before pool. That's the why the X-Games(Snowboarding/Freestyle were accepted a lot faster than other applicants. I have maintained for some time the Sport of Pool must become a self standing entity worldwide. There needs to be a true World Congress for Pool. One without a higher goal than to offer the pool player their opportunity to achieve a World Championship through a legitimate process. We don't need to join the Olympics. Unfortunately,I feel the WPA and WCBS have used all their energy in that regard,and yet,we are still wanting.
Pool Must be made available to every Jr.High/Middle School as a Sport/Physical Education Curricula.
Same for High Schools.
Expanded Support of the ACUI for Colleges.
Pool Clubs along the lines of the Europeans targeted for smaller communities(where most of our future growth will come from).
Coaching Opportunities for Teachers with Competitive Individuals and Teams.
Ownership of Professional Players as Individuals and Teams.(NFL,MLB,etc.)
Outside of the Billiard Industry Sponsorship from the Local to Worldwide Level.(Tennis is a pretty good example)
A True World Championship. p.s. and if a Gov't pulls a political ploy like what happened in Germany,severe fines and suspensions!!
At IOC's website: Olympic.org
Under "How does a sport become Olympic"... it says this:
"How does a sport become Olympic?
To make it onto the Olympic programme, a sport first has to be recognised: it must be administered by an International Federation which ensures that the sport's activities follow the Olympic Charter. If it is widely practised around the world and meets a number of criteria established by the IOC session, a recognised sport may be added to the Olympic programme on the recommendation of the IOC's Olympic Programme Commission."
Under "How does a sport become Olympic"... it says this:
"How does a sport become Olympic?
To make it onto the Olympic programme, a sport first has to be recognised: it must be administered by an International Federation which ensures that the sport's activities follow the Olympic Charter. If it is widely practised around the world and meets a number of criteria established by the IOC session, a recognised sport may be added to the Olympic programme on the recommendation of the IOC's Olympic Programme Commission."
Mere Words,only Politics Prevail.
Justin,that is the correct verbage of the IOC. The last words however are the crux,"the recommendation of the Olympic Programme Commission." The World Confederation of Billiard Sports(WCBS) have attained all of the requirements you have quoted,yet due to the backlog of requests(They say)Pool,Carom,and Snooker are still being placed on the wait list. If more than the ability to present the sport according to this standard were utilized,the 500 million plus pool players in the world would reach that criteria. There is Politics afoot,and we do not need to waste our time or money on it. Thanks for finding the quote from IOC.