Is Curling an Olympic Sport?
Swedish Curling Team
The GB curling teams are on their way home, the men’s team narrowly missing out on a medal, although many sports fans may be asking: So what?
If there is a sport more unlike traditional Olympic disciplines, I’ve yet to watch it – well actually, table tennis comes close.
With curling, it’s the separation of sport from fitness, and the sweeping. One person releases a stone and colleagues (sweepers) stick the broom around/sweep the ice to help the stone slide – bowls on ice really, but with a domestic twist. An extreme winter sport? Physically, no but be warned: it’s addictive to watch!
Which sports are truly ‘Olympic’ is a difficult call, with some traditionalists fighting to stop the inclusion of certain less-worthy disciplines. Here’s how the system works: A sport needs first to be recognised (run by an International Federation) and its activities follow the Olympic Charter – as set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) – and then given the thumbs up from the Olympic Commission.
This year the IOC accepted ski-cross into the Olympic family. For the uninitiated: imagine a BMX course covered in snow, then tilt it downhill. Four skiers are released from a starting gate at the same time, and then the fun and games begin.
Unlike curling, it’s fast and furious, and dangerous too. Not that these qualities are benchmarks for inclusion – if they were, then synchronised swimming and dressage would never have made the Olympic grade.
In the end, perhaps it’s not the sport, but the sportsperson who counts? After all, these ladies and gents are the best in the world. The fastest, the fittest, and yes the best curlers too.
Related posts:
- Can extreme sports prove Olympic success starts in school?
- When is fighting a sport?
- Parkour as an Olympic sport?
2 Comments to “Is Curling an Olympic Sport?”
Post comment
Tim B
Follow us on Twitter!Real time adventure sports updates
Categories
- Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts
- New Adventure Travel Ideas
- New Site Features on ASH
- Our Experts
- Top 10 Adventure Sports Travel Lists
- Tribe Adventure Travel Blogs
Recent Posts
- Overseas Adventure Travel: Top 10 undiscovered destinations
- Travel Gear: Camera bags built to travel the world
- Baby on a ski holiday: Review of the Pepi Penguin Club
- Travelling with a baby on a winter sports holiday
- Winter Festivals 2012: Snowboard Events and Ski Parties
- Top 10 active breaks for solo travellers
- Walking gear : how getting your kit off keeps you warm
Should Curling be in the Olympics – in my opinion yes.
It is the most boring winter Olympic sport to watch and I wish the BBC had devoted more time to some of the more exciting sports but like you once I started watching I couldn’t switch off.
In my opinion an Olympic sport should involve physical ability or skill and preferably both. But there is something else that is important, I think that the Olympics should champion the less know sports that you would normally never see to help inspire people to try them otherwise the next generation will have no idea there is more to life then football.
So curling in my opinion is in, so is ski cross, luge, archery, swimming, rowing, cycling, judo and the multitude of other sports that on the whole we don’t get to see. What I think should be questioned is the inclusion of the big professional sports such as football and tennis especially when there is no space for sports such as squash…..
I don’t think they should exist to champion the less well-known sports, if this were the case, there could no end to the activities included. But you’re right about football and tennis. Competitors in these sports are so successful, already represent their country in international competitions and most are dripping in gold long before they arrive.
I think Decathlon is the ultimate traditional Olympic event. Its makes the stresses and strains placed on other athletes look like a walk in the park – which is also an Olympic event, I think…