SPORTS

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will meet later this week to make some key decisions about the 2020 Summer Olympics. One of the most contentious decisions is whether to add a new sport to the existing roster: wrestling, squash, or baseball-softball.

Right now, the IOC can only add one sport to keep the number of sports to 28—but that rule could be overturned, too. (New York Times)

Use our resources to better understand Olympic sports, then SCROLL DOWN to vote on which sport you’d choose to add.

Discussion Ideas

• Wrestling, squash, and baseball-softball are the leading contenders to be included in the 2020 Summer Olympics. (Read about the pros and cons of each here.) Why do students think sports federations would want to be included in the Olympics?
  • The Olympics are the most famous and most-watched multi-sports competition in the world. (The World Cup or the Super Bowl may draw greater audiences, but they are limited to just one competition of one sport.) This platform brings widespread attention to any participating sport. According to the NY Times, “[s]uddenly, there are youth leagues and commercial endorsements. Medals are at stake, and with them a chance to burnish national self-image.“
  • Sports federations benefit financially from Olympic participation. According to the NY Times, “[e]very sport gets a cut of the money generated by the Games’ broadcast and revenue deals, with each share determined by the sport’s popularity, measured by the number of spectators, television viewers and other factors. The pot to be divvied up for sports in the London Games last year is $520 million.“

• What qualifications do students think a sport should have to be included in the Olympics?
  • The IOC has 39 listed criteria for adding a sport to the games, divided into nine major categories. Click here for an easy-to-read chart.
    • Value Added: A sport must add value to the overall Olympics.
    • Governance: A sport must have a clear set of rules, including a ban on betting and gender equity in the sport’s elected body.
    • History and Tradition: A sport must have established its own federation or governing body and series of competitions.
    • Universality: A sport must have world-wide appeal, with participation by many different national organizations.
    • Popularity: A sport must appeal to the general public, youth, spectators, and the media.
    • Athletes: Athletes or former athletes must be able to contribute to the sport’s governance, and athletes’ health and careers must be formally protected.
    • Development of the International Federation: A sport’s finances must develop both national and international associations.
    • Sport: A sport must offer gender equity, fairness, and criteria supporting the environment.
    • Finance: A sport’s federation must use standard accounting procedures and make their finances known to the IOC, and a sport must have the financial ability to share expenses for Olympic venues, technology, and television production.

• Read through our resources on the X Games, course landaise, surfing, and ultramarathon running. Do students think any of these sports might qualify for a spot in the Olympics? Why or why not?

• Many, many sports compete to be in the Olympics. Cricket, golf, lacrosse, rugby, motorsports, American football, ballooning, roller hockey, water skiing, billiards, bowling, chess, ballroom dancing (called dance sport), croquet, karate, polo, sumo, tug-of-war, and ultimate Frisbee are just some of the serious contenders. Have students investigate these sports and, using the qualifications provided by the IOC, have them determine what sports may qualify.

• The current IOC rules limit the number of summer Olympic sports to 28. Read our article on the 2012 Olympics. If the IOC decided to add all three sports (wrestling, squash, and baseball-softball), what sports would students eliminate to make room for them? (Keep in mind they’ll only have to cut two sports. Wrestling was a part of the 2012 games—it was removed from the 2020 line-up in February 2013.)