Sochi is terrific, but Olympic Movement could consider shifting some sports

It's time to shrink the Summer Olympics and expand the Winter Games
I love the Olympics.
I love sports.
I believe the Summer Olympics are the largest event held worldwide every four years.
I think the Winter Olympics are also a great way to celebrate the best of sports.
There is a problem, however. The Summer Games are far too large, so much so that many sports get lost in the shuffle, while the Winter Olympics could easily be expanded.
Below is the blog I wrote during the last Summer Games, essentially saying just that. Keep in mind, the Olympic Movement was considering removing wrestling as an event at that time.

          ()()()()()()()()()()

By Mark Schadenberg

Some Summer Games sports could be shifted to Winter Olympics

By Mark Schadenberg

I have a solution to the notion that wrestling should no longer be part of the Summer Olympics.

The change is? Convert wrestling into being a Winter Olympics sport, beginning in 2018.

Quite frankly, the Summer Games is a gigantic venture – so large that an organizing committee must build venues and villages for thousands of athletes and reporters. From rowing to track to swimming to target shooting, everyone is spread out over a large area with various arenas to coordinate volunteers and finalizing all the staging matters.

Also, TV broadcasters can simply not cover all the events.

The Winter Olympics – by comparison – is a tiny event.

At the same time, countless more events should or could be shifted to the Winter Games as the summer event is likely 10 times larger and has grown too large. If you keep sports like women’s softball and men’s baseball, plus add golf into the Summer Olympics, that event grows even more.

I would never suggest taking the swimming / diving / water polo events or other predominately ‘outside’ warm-weather competitions like (velodrome) cycling, and make them Winter Games sports, but what about weightlifting, boxing, martial arts, badminton and gymnastics?

Gymnastics and trampoline would probably receive more spotlight prime-time TV in the Winter Olympics.

I know what you’re thinking, for the most part those other pursuits would likely get lost in the shuffle of the big winter sports of hockey, figure skating and skiing, but they are already shuffled off to the background in the Summer Games as it is now.

Simply something to consider.

Mark Schadenberg, Sales Representative

Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)

Royal LePage Triland Realty

757 Dundas St, Woodstock

www.wesellwoodstock.com

(519) 537-1553, cell or text

Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com

Twitter: markroyallepage

Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination