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Baseball/softball out at the Olympics...

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No argument that there are a lot of worthless events, but this surprises me a little bit. These 2 events attract a lot of attention. Other events I would rank on the elimination list: Rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, rifle shooting, archery, ping pong, badmitten & beach volleyball (men's only....the women's was the only thing I watched last year.)
 
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Table tennis and badminton will never be eliminated b/c they are cheap to set up and they are both played by a majority of the world's population

Softball and baseball require the construction of an additonal stadium which is some countries won't even be used afterwards.
 
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Baseball is huge in the Americas and Japan. Unfortunately the rest of the world plays cricket instead. I went to grad school with a dude from Africa and he LOVED cricket. Out of those choices Rugby would probably be the best replacement.
 
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If a city can't afford to build the necessary facilities to host the games, then don't freaking bid for them!

Christ, why don't they just make the Olympics more about recreation than sport? While they're at it why don't they eliminate basketball, track and soccer and add bowling, horseshoes, darts and poker. Then all they'd need is a bowling allet and a convention center to hold every damn event.
 
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Rugby is played all over the world. It is big in both hemispheres and is played in both First World and developing countries. The 7s format that will likely be included in the Olympics is a faster, more spectator-friendly version of the sport and is more conducive to tournament play. It also gives smaller (both in terms of size and rugby following) countries a realistic chance to compete with the sport's heavyweights, making it perfect for the Olympics. Also, you can use existing soccer fields or easily convert rugby facilities after the Olympics, unlike those of some other sports.

This is probably way more than anyone wants to know, but in 7s you play with seven on each team (side) on the same size field (pitch) as used in "regular" rugby with fifteen players on a side. This opens and speeds up play and eliminates much of the confusion (from both spectator and player perspectives) associated with rugby, i.e. scrums. The game is easier to follow and the scoring and tackling are done "at speed" which makes it more fun to watch. Games are also high intensity as they are played in two seven minute halves with a one minute halftime break, rather than two forty minute halves. This allows for tournament play in which a team might play four or five matches in a day and play again the following day, rather than one match a week with 15s.

I am heading to Philadelphia this afternoon for a 7s tournament tomorrow. It's a hell of a lot of fun to play and ought to be good to watch (at the highest levels) live and on TV in the Olympics. There's some chance of it being included in Beijing and it is almost certain to be included in London (the ancestral home of rugby) in 2012. If you like football, you'll love it when you see it.
 
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I would rank on the elimination list: Rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, rifle shooting,
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tOSU synchronized swimmers, the team has won A LOT of National Titles, would beg to differ with eliminating them from the Olympics. I would go with Rhythmic Gymnastics, dancing as a sport... Not so interesting concept.:roll2:
 
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AJHawkfan said:
If a city can't afford to build the necessary facilities to host the games, then don't freaking bid for them!

Christ, why don't they just make the Olympics more about recreation than sport? While they're at it why don't they eliminate basketball, track and soccer and add bowling, horseshoes, darts and poker. Then all they'd need is a bowling allet and a convention center to hold every damn event.
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Baseball is closer to bowling in terms of athletic ability than to basketball. Or have you not noticed Bartolo Colon's waist recently?
 
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I always thought softball was a joke as an olympic sport. Anything not played by men,,,, is not a sport. lol.

Seriously, and I know the olympic version is fast pitch, but anything I can do with 10 beer guzzling friends is NOT an olympic sport. Anything where you can play "keg ball" is not a sport.
 
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