And they won't let Golf be an Olympic sport...

Now I am a pretty big fan of the Olympic Games. I think that it is one of the one bastians of pure sport left in the world today (with the exception of Basketball, Hockey, Tennis, & the other sports in which Professionals are allowed to compete). But with that said, I truly think that they need to examine some of the sports that they allow into both the Summer & Winter Games, along with those which are deemed to not be Olympic as of yet.

Tug of war, rugby, polo, lacrosse, and golf were once on the Olympic programme. Climbing, bridge, golf, roller skating and surfing are sports that are recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The International Sports Federations (IFs) that administer these sports must ensure that their statutes, practice and activities conform with the Olympic Charter, but they are not allowed to be part of the actual Olympic Games. These are some of the most popular sports in the world...ALL OVER THE WORLD.

• Although more popular with the High School & College population in the United States, Rugby is hugely popular in almost every developed country in the rest of the world.
• Lacrosse is yet another enormously popular sport, along the same lines as Rugby. Widely played throughout the world...
  
• Tug of War....although it is more fun than I can describe during the Greek Games at many Universities across the US, I can see why this one is no longer in the Olympic Programme.
• Roller Skating...not really a sport (unless full contact) & wasn't even really that fun during the couples skate at Rollerworld.

Golf, however, is one sport that I cannot imagine is not an olympic event. There are golf courses in almost every civilized country in the world. Golf is also one of the world's most popular sports among people of all ages, races, & classes. I have to believe that just about every country that brings any sort of team to the Games of the whatever number Olympiad would have an entry in the event. Also, I guarantee that there is a world class golf course in the vicinity of every single city that has held & would ever hold a Summer Olympic Games. There are professional golf events & tours held in every portion of the world, with the possible exception of those regions which have a sub-freezing climate.

This is how the International Olympic Committee describes the sport of Golf:

Golf has been on the Olympic programme twice, in 1900 and 1904. There were two golf events in 1900 - one for gentlemen and one for ladies. Golf is one of the world's most popular sports, being played in well over 100 nations world-wide. Golf also has a long history, as it origins can be traced back several centuries, and it has had organised international competitions since the mid-19th century. In the last decade golf has made entreaties to be returned to the Olympic programme.

Now what in that blurb would make them think that it should not be an Olympic event? If you can explain it to me, please do.

Now, let's go over the top 10 sports currently contested in the Olympic Games that, to a great many people, are questionable at best...but are somehow more suitable than golf...

1. Curling - Now I find this sport to be exciting & fascinating...but where & when is it competed outside of the Winter Olympics...not to mention that if I decided that I would be a damn good curler (which, by the way, I have no doubt that I would be the Tiger Woods of Curling), where & how would I get into the sport? NO ONE KNOWS...but if someone does, please let me know, because I'm serious about wanting to try it...
   
2. Badminton - Unless you are a diminutive Asian or Forrest Gump, I wouldn't call this a sport...Dodge Ball deserves to be an Olympic Sport more than Badminton...

   (On a random note..who doesn't think that Dodge Ball would take second seat only to Women's Beach Volleyball as the most watched Olympic event? All they would need is a Misty May & they'd be even more popular...)

3. Ice Dancing - An event for skaters who can't jump, don't have enough talent to be figure skaters, but are still too sissy to play Hockey...although the women are much more attractive than women in figure skating...
   
4. Rhythmic Gymnastics - Much like Ice Dancing, people who couldn't really hack it as gymnasts... just running & skipping about flitting their ribbons around in the air...
5. Trampoline - Every 8 year old's dream ( along with my wife's ), but an Olympic event? I don't think so...
6. Table Tennis - Also known as Gossima. Whiff-Whaff. Flim-Flam. Ping-Pong... sounds like Kim Jong-Il on a rampage... please reference the diminutive Asian comment above...
7. Short-Track Speed Skating - Again, the diminutive Asian theme continues & anyone else who couldn't cut it in real speed skating (which is an event which I love to watch, by the way)...plus that kid with the soul patch was just over-hyped & annoying...
8. Hand Ball - Dodge Ball would be a much more exciting event any day of the week...
9. Wrestling - I know it's there to stay, but it's just blatant repressed homosexuality...
10. Syncronized Swimming - Enough said...