New News: Olympic Committee voted Skydiving down (again)

[ltdiver 3]

This just in this morning:

Dear FAI Colleagues,

As you know, the FAI is recognised by the International Olympic Committee. This means that, in theory at least, our sports have some chance of one day being on the Olympic programme. For some time now, we have been campaigning to have parachuting/skydiving included on the programme of the Olympic Games.

The International Olympic Committee has now informed us that its Executive Board has decided to select 5 of the IOC-Recognised Federations for further study, with a view to possible inclusion in future Olympic Games (2012 and beyond). The Federations selected are:

Golf
Roller Sports
Rugby
Karate
Squash

This decision has the merit of clarity. It effectively means that there is no longer a realistic chance of any air sport being on the Olympic programme in the short to medium-term future.

We are therefore now free to concentrate our efforts on developing the presence of air sports in "The World Games"
(http://www.worldgames-iwga.org/),
the next edition of which will take place - with the prominent participation of parachuting/skydiving - in Duisburg (GER). For more information, please see:
http://www.worldgames2005.org/en/home/index.php


With best regards,

Max Bishop
Secretary General

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
Avenue Mon-Repos 24
CH-1005 LAUSANNE
Switzerland

FAI - The World Air Sports Federation
Tel: +41 21 345 1070
Fax: +41 21 345 1077
Email: maxb@fai.org
Website : http://www.fai.org

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[JohnRich 4]

Well thank goodness that Squash at least made it into consideration. After all, it's such a widespread and publicly known sport, with millions of Squash leagues around the world. I've been very worried about the lack of presence of Squash in the public eye... [/sarcasm]

[falxori 0]

hmmm , anyone tried squash during freefall?
we could fill it with lead like a space ball...

O

"Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero."

[jumpinjackflash 0]

I was thinking of head down Curling my self...

Now that would actually be exciting.

It's a gas, gas, gas...

[Mad47 0]

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Well thank goodness that Squash at least made it into consideration. After all, it's such a widespread and publicly known sport, with millions of Squash leagues around the world. I've been very worried about the lack of presence of Squash in the public eye... [/sarcasm]

And what the heck is Squash?

Please forgive a bloody foreigner

[white_falcon 0]

its a vegetable of course.


lol

[Kramer 0]

It'd be so cool if they made swooping an Olympic sport! It doesn't look like I should be holding my breath though...

The FAKE KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!!!!!!

[CieloDiosa 0]

ah hahahahahhahahhahahaha

that was funny.

~boogie ho!!
pull before impact!
L.A.S.T#14, PMS #309, Ci EL O DI O SA

[billvon 3,114]

>After all, it's such a widespread and publicly known sport, with millions of Squash leagues around the world.

Betcha there are more squash players than skydivers.

[dreamsville 0]

Hey I'm a squash player (well, not for a few months actually)! There are estimated to be 30,000 to 40,000 skydivers in the United States, and I think about the same number of squash players in the US as well from what I have read. Since I do both I guess I must be a tiny statistical aberration.

If you are not on the East Coast, most people don't know what squash is, just as they don't know much about our sport. I stopped for a cocktail after work yesterday (hey, it's almost that time again!) and someone I know asked me if the jump was about 10 minutes or so. WELL, I NEVER (heard such bunk)!

I guess we shouldn't wonder why sports trickle into the Olympics this way. I guess due to the ad dollars involved, it's too risky to try to lead the way by exposing viewers to sports they might enjoy, so the Olympics need to trail by a decade or two just to be sure.
|

I don't drink during the day, so I don't know what it is about this airline. I keep falling out the door of the plane.

Harry, FB #4143

[kelpdiver 2]

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Hey I'm a squash player (well, not for a few months actually)! There are estimated to be 30,000 to 40,000 skydivers in the United States, and I think about the same number of squash players in the US as well from what I have read. Since I do both I guess I must be a tiny statistical aberration.

I think racquetball is more popular as a whole, but certainly not on the east coast, and perhaps not even here in California. No shortage of the dead ball players at Berkeley. Seems like too much leaning over to me though, I prefer the faster ball.

It makes much more sense as an olympic SPORT than skydiving.

[mistiman2002 0]

im a little upset that dodge ball was not added after all it is an american past time there are a few skydiver from CSS who have started a team and that sport is sweeping the nation by popular demand

in my opinion any sport that involves alot of playin with your balls should be up for olimpic review

[Eiley 0]

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I think racquetball is more popular as a whole, but certainly not on the east coast, and perhaps not even here in California. No shortage of the dead ball players at Berkeley. Seems like too much leaning over to me though, I prefer the faster ball.

What is Racquetball? I always thought that was just what the Americans called Squash?

Most of the larger gyms in Australia have squash courts - its way more popular and high-profile than skydiving down here.

nothing to see here

[mr2mk1g 10]

I don't know about America but in the rest of the world Squash is really very popular. I'd put lots of money on there being many times the number of squash players than skydivers.

Just because it's not big in America doesn't mean it's not big elsewhere. Remember - one of the most popular games in the WORLD is "soccer". There are probably more regular “soccer” players in the world than there are Americans… and very few of them call it “soccer”.

[kelpdiver 2]

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What is Racquetball? I always thought that was just what the Americans called Squash?

Most of the larger gyms in Australia have squash courts - its way more popular and high-profile than skydiving down here.

Racquetball has a much faster ball - basically just a round rubber superball. The court extends further back and all walls are used.

As we see it here, squash uses a pretty dead ball. Not sure if the same racquets are used...suspect no.

[piisfish 140]

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And what the heck is Squash?

from www.squash.org

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Squash is a World game, played in 153 Nations,
124 of which are WSF members, and over 50,000
courts worldwide.

50'000 courts, that's maybe more than the number of DZ's worldwide isn't it ??

scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM

[kallend 2,147]

Quote

Well thank goodness that Squash at least made it into consideration. After all, it's such a widespread and publicly known sport, with millions of Squash leagues around the world. I've been very worried about the lack of presence of Squash in the public eye... [/sarcasm]

Typical US centric view. There ARE lots of squash leagues in existence, just not in the USA where the wimpy racketball variant is played instead.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[kallend 2,147]

Quote

Quote

And what the heck is Squash?

from www.squash.org

Quote

Squash is a World game, played in 153 Nations,
124 of which are WSF members, and over 50,000
courts worldwide.

50'000 courts, that's maybe more than the number of DZ's worldwide isn't it ??

We had over 50 squash courts at my university in the UK. It was more popular than tennis.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[JohnRich 4]

Quote

Quote

Well thank goodness that Squash at least made it into consideration. After all, it's such a widespread and publicly known sport, with millions of Squash leagues around the world. I've been very worried about the lack of presence of Squash in the public eye... [/sarcasm]

Typical US centric view.

Typical reply from someone with no sense of humor.

But don't worry, I'm still planning on buying you one for xmas.

[jimbarry 0]

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Remember - one of the most popular games in the WORLD is "soccer". There are probably more regular “soccer” players in the world than there are Americans… and very few of them call it “soccer”.

What are you talking about? Soccer is extremely popular in the US, maybe even the most participated sport. Up until around the age of 12 or 13, that is.

Also remember that the word "soccer" comes from Football Association (Assoc, or "soccer") from ENGLAND, dude. thank you very much...

Plus, why is it that the world has such a problem with soccer (football) not being a major sport in the US? so it's not. so what? americans don't seem to have a problem with it being a second-tier sport here. why should anyone else?

[mr2mk1g 10]

I'm not sure what you're point is… I don’t disagree with any of the information you post. My point was that simply because a sport enjoys a second-tier status in the US does not mean it is similarly held in the World at large.

The Olympics is concerned with the World scene not just the US. Thus Football is in the Olympics along with things like Squash - sports popular throughout the world... whilst sports such as Baseball and American Football which are almost exclusively the preserve of the US are not.

What I was talking about was that simply because Squash, (being the example chosen earlier in the thread), was not popular in the US, did not mean it is not popular in the World and thus worthy of inclusion in the Olympics. Football (soccer) is a good example of that theory in practice as it only enjoys a "second-tier" following within the US but in the wider world it is apparently the sport of choice.