Dumbest Olympic Event?

[audiophilia]

Synchronized diving was on tonight. Pretty incredible stuff...

 

[justsofresh]

synchronized diving is a cool sport to watch. it takes a lot to do those dives and even with the mimic movements of a partner. it isn't football but takes skill like any other sport.

 

[robbie]

I think there are a lot of events that could be included yet aren't.

As for dumb events

It isnt an event, but if gymnastic teams have to qualify as a team to get to the olympics why have a team qualifier during the olympic games also?

I think the one with guns and skis while impressive is kind of not really a sport just war practice for very mountainous countries.

+1 on rythmic gymnastics

I actually enjoy curling though, its one of those sports like golf where if you've never played it helps to watch with someone who understands the game.

Is bowling an event?

I think drunk bowling should be an event.

robbie

 

[Dakota rube]

Originally Posted by robbie

I think drunk bowling should be an event.

robbie

Isn't that redundant?

 

[FidelCashflow]

I didn't know this until I saw a stand-up comedian making fun of this recently... there is a solo synchronized swimming event. WTF are you synchronized with if you're in the pool by yourself?

Also, Jerry Seinfeld lampooned the biathalon pretty nicely:

"Some of the events in the Olympics don't make sense to me.
I don't understand the connection to any reality...
Like in the Winter Olympics they have that biathlon.
That combines cross-country skiing with shooting a gun.
How many alpine snipers are into this?
Ski, shoot a gun... ski, bang, bang, bang...
It's like combining swimming and strangle a guy.
Why don't we have that?
That makes absolutely as much sense to me.
Just put people in the pool at the end of each lane for the swimmers..."

 

[tiecollector]

Originally Posted by Ambulance Chaser

Walking. For those who couldn't cut it in real track and field.
Sychronized diving certainly isn't the worst. BMX looks lame. I've never watched the trampoline but that sounds incredibly dumb. I'm not too into the professional team sports being in the Olympics either. I think it is ridiculous that NBA players are in the Olympics. I'm so glad the Dream Team beat Chad! Rhythmic Gymastics is pretty lame. Synchronized Swimming is ******* AWESOME though and looks hard as hell. Taekwondo is pretty lame, there is about one kick every 5 minutes. Sailing seems like it was only added so the people who sponsor these events have something for their kids to compete in though it's been around a while. My favorite summer events are track and field, diving, and synchronized swimming because it intrigues me and I haven't seen much of it. The modern pentathlon seems incredibly random. Look at these events: * Ã

pÃ

e fencing * pistol shooting * 200 metre freestyle swimming * show jumping on horseback * 3 km cross country running But after reading the history, it is pretty cool http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_...ummer_Olympics

Modern pentathlon is a sports contest created especially for the Summer Olympic Games by the founder of the modern Games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, and was first contested in 1912. Coubertin was inspired by the pentathlon event in Ancient Olympic Games, which was modeled after the skills of the ideal soldier at the time. The modern pentathlon simulates the experience of a 19th century cavalry soldier behind enemy lines: he must ride an unfamiliar horse, fight with pistol and sword, swim, and run.

 

[merkur]

..

 

[Seanallen]

I would say table tennis, but after a few youtube videos, I have to say, its intense.

 

[acidboy]

If it isn't in there yet, I've read that ballroom dancing, or Dancesport, is being lobbied.

 

[Journeyman]

Originally Posted by clarity

huh?

Mountain Biking? Are you serious? hah

It may not be interesting to watch because 90% of the racing and competition takes place on a secluded trail. But don't you dare lump it with something silly as synchronized diving. The mountain biking has been around for a long time, not just "the last few Olympics".

It's been said already, but mountain biking only became an olympic event in 1996, so this is only the fourth Olympics it's been in (in fact, I haven't checked, but they might have alternated it with something else, too).

Originally Posted by JammieDodger

Football (Soccer). As I understand it this is an amateur sport at the olympics. I really cannot understand this, because if you're good then you become a professional. So it's just a contest between the world's 150th best football teams. If it were a professional sport then that would be pointless too, because there is already the world cup and during the summer olympic year the Euro cup. Plus the African cup the previous year (I think).

Equestrian. I think most people understand why this is weird.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by saying that soccer is an "amateur" sport at the Olympics. The teams are primarily composed of younger players, but that does not mean that they are not professionals. Most of the national teams in the Olympics will have some pretty damn good players, even if the Ronaldos and the Thierry Henrys cannot compete.

Equestrian events have been around either since the commencement of the modern Olympics in 1896, or at least since very early in the piece. It's not like it's a recent, faddish introduction to the Olympics.

For my money, whilst I like cycling, having BMX as an Olympic event is just silly. What's next, skateboarding?

 

[roflwaffle]

Badminton wins the Gold for the dumbest even in the Olympics hands down.

 

[Harry Lean]

The marathon is a dumb arse event. Bores the living **** out of me, and that is coming from someone who IS boring.

 

[HEWSINATOR]

I think most of you guys are listing sports you just may not like. Sports like Badminton are certainly worthy of the Olympics.

Journeyman, I think what Jammie means by using amateur is a bit un-informed (in soccer there is something like under a certain age you can be pro). Being an amateur in your sport means you can not collect a salary for your play. I believe you can still collect prize and sponsorship money. These days, each sports governing body decides who can compete in the games.

As for the beach volleyball and regular volleyball discussion: I do not get this at all. These are very different sports. The only thing the same is the look of the ball and net. This would be like asking why there is field hockey and ice hockey (I preface with ice for you Americans). The difference is certainly more vast than any type of swim stroke let alone distance.

Now for the actually dumb sports (well events actually):

-Anything with an air gun
-Rhythmic gymnastics
-Synchronized anything (don't give me the it takes skill, I know it does, so does being a good barista)
-Road Race Cycling just does not showcase the sport's best in the Olympics. For the sport to be a good Olympic sport, an Olympic medal should be the highlight of the athlete's career. This is certainly not the case in road race.
-Walking? Come on.

 

[TyCooN]

Boxing, amateurs going full rounds without scoring a clean hit in on each other? Bullshit. Apparently bodyshots, uppercuts, and jabs don't count for points either.

 

[JammieDodger]

Originally Posted by Journeyman

I'm not quite sure what you mean by saying that soccer is an "amateur" sport at the Olympics. The teams are primarily composed of younger players, but that does not mean that they are not professionals. Most of the national teams in the Olympics will have some pretty damn good players, even if the Ronaldos and the Thierry Henrys cannot compete.

Equestrian events have been around either since the commencement of the modern Olympics in 1896, or at least since very early in the piece. It's not like it's a recent, faddish introduction to the Olympics.

For my money, whilst I like cycling, having BMX as an Olympic event is just silly. What's next, skateboarding?

Regarding football, you're right. I thought it was an amateur sport, turns out it's mostly an under-23s tournament. Which I still think is silly, because it doesn't hold much importance in the football calendar. And it's not a different discipline like you might consider amateur versus professional boxing to be.

Equestrian events annoy me because whilst I know it's hard work riding a horse, I very much believe the Olympics should be about humans competing.

I'm not keen on BMX either. I think Snowboarding and especially boarder cross were important for the Winter Olympics (ideally each race would have six riders, though); BMX is unnecessary.