Event's that SHOULD be in the Olympics

THANK YOU, Tyler sweetheart, for this thread.

It seems to me the common denominator (other than history, wide appeal, and the ability of a host country to push a sport through for inclusion) is that an Olympic sport requires a high degree of physical skill. More often than not, also physical exertion.

I agree with surfing. Iron tri would be great but logistically just not possible.

I actually also think bowling would be a good fit.

I don't see any reason not to include pool, although bowling would take priority because it also includes a higher measure of exertion.

There's a few others I need to think about, although indoor and beach soccer both come to mind.

Yes.

However, a lot of the Olympic sports are there because of historical weight and appeal, and don't necessarily reflect modern-day realities.

I actually think ultimate Frisbee would be a good addition. My sister puts on a regional UF tournament here in Bali and in the last eight years the tournament, and the sport across Asia, has gotten huge and there are some very serious leagues. It's quite widely known and played in Europe, too. I can't speak for the Americas broadly, though you could put a killer team from the U.S. together.

Windsurfing?  Maybe not.

Cricket?

Rugby?

Beach volleyball (4's)?

Not sure why they got rid of baseball.  More nations probably play baseball than team handball.

I think rugby would be pretty cool to watch. What about polo? The kind with the horses. Has that ever been in the olympics? *please excuse my ignorance*

Frisbee anyone?

 I would think the gear to play ultimate frisbee would widely available to most countries in the Olympics. 

Also, I believe the aerobie flying disc holds the record for longest thrown object using only human power.

Correct, and I mentioned Ultimate Frisbee above.

Ahh I see that now. Sorry, I must have skipped your second post. Well make that x2 for UF then.

Ultimate is pretty big in the US. The problems I see with it being an Olympic sport are 1) is that it's self-refereed, and very subjective especially related to fouls, which breaks down in the more serious competitions (like worlds and nationals), 2) I'm not sure it passes the 'enough people play it' test - it's big recreationally and at colleges, but really niche beyond that, and 3) right now, Ultimate is structured around 'club' teams. Not sure how players would be selected, developed, etc, and not quite sure how the UPA (national body) would fit in with the USOC, other associations. Needs a little more structure to make the Olympics, methinks. 

PS. Same could be said of lots of other sports.

PPS. Different topic altogether, but I'm a proponent of shrinking the Olympics, not finding more sports to add to the amazingly packed schedule that already exists. Sometimes it seems as though we're looking for more events just to have more events. Maybe I'm the only one that feels that way, but the IOC and national OCs and sport-specific governing bodies have no incentive to do anything but continue adding events, as it promotes their agenda and confers them more power, nationally and internationally. /rant off.  

ETA: yeah, not sure you could field a team for savage 7's that's THC-free. Hehe. 

It's about even, actually. That is, the number of countries that have some kind of a national baseball or handball federation.

& in 2016 it will be.

7s.

Fantastic!  I can't wait.  Now we just have to hope that NBC actually has some coverage of it.

You are not the only one. I really do not understand why there needs to be more. I don't really understand the need to be in the "Olympics" just because you do a physical activity. Like frisby... people play it. It has grown in poularity, there is a governing body and some play offs... why the Olympics?

People (here in the U.S.) keep talking about no baseball. We have the MLB. World Series. 11 months and 5000 games a year to take naps by... why the Olympics? What joy does one get watching the U.S. Basketball "Dream Team" take time off to go destroy some team from across the globe?

But why we are at it... let's throw hacky sack in there too. Sorry, grumpy guy leaving.