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Sport Climbing Considered for 2020 Olympic Games

Original Post
Clay Zamperini · · Tarzana, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 70
climbing.com/news/hotflashe…

What are everyones thoughts on this? Do you think that sport climbing should be an olympic sport? Will the inevitable rise in popularity be a good thing for climbing as a whole? Or will the initial influx of gumbies trash our crags?
Greg Gavin · · SLC, UT · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 888

lame

Steve Bond · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2006 · Points: 45

Not a good representation of the sport. I'd imagine this is plastic pulling and no actual rock will be included. We can only hope the French will bring colorful lycra body suits to keep the cool factor high. Personally, I'd vote in wushu before climbing. It's like climbing, but the climbers hit each other.

Mark Hammond · · Eldorado Springs, CO · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 466

Boooooooooring.

berl · · Seattle · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 25

I think inclusion as an olympic sport will be good for gyms and will also draw out more mutant children to climb things previously thought impossible. like probably stuff on the moon. It will also result in more people searching the interwebs to ask climbing questions, more bowl cuts, speed-buckles and rack questions and then there's what we're really all hoping for: that climbing in the olympics will open the door for a real sport: rappelling. or repelling. whatever.

the organizations pushing for this (for example: every single person in Europe) are much more powerful and motivated than even a huge population of recreational climbers who enjoy climbing in the outdoors.

and yes, Steve
" this is plastic pulling and no actual rock will be included."
but I would venture to guess that most of the time spent climbing in the world right now is on plastic. your disparaging remarks will not be appreciated by our new European overlords.

I personally find it encouraging that various high-profile sports such as softball and baseball can get dropped from the olympics: it means that if climbing ever becomes an olympic sport, there's always the chance something else will eventually take its place.

hijack:
8a.nu is (like it or not) a dominant feature in the world climbing media landscape and I think it has reached a sort of critical mass. Their/jens' general emphasis on points, competitions, grades, 'world records' etc has been adopted by jillions of kids who never knew anything different and it has created new types of climbing currency valued by sponsors, climbers wanting sponsors, corporations, etc.

Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520

I don't know, I would watch it if it became an Olympic sport. Plastic comps are their own deal. Not rock climbing, but neither is fencing without a sword that can actually kill your opponent. Why not?

Jeff Johnston · · Bozeman, MT · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 110

Such a question was answered on rc.com a while ago and I think, (based on the cut and past below) that aid climbing will be the next big Olympic sport

From RC.com

"Reporter A: Wow, it's been an exiting route for Team America. They've only been on the route for six hours and already they are 70 feet up. What are they up to now Jim?"

"Reporter B: He's placing a Fifi hook, wait a talon, no, he's back to the fifi, now he's testing his body weight.... testing it, testing it.... OK, now he's eating a sandwich, and he's doing some more testing. He likes that placement and hes up, at least 8"!"

"Reporter A: We are seeing some incredible action today, and pitch 2 promises even more excitement. Now Jim, Team America seems to be getting ready to bivvy for the night. What are they up to now?"

"Reporter B: Bob, he's crapping into a tube, an integral part of this exciting and dynamic sport. You'll see he's using the latest carbon fiber crap tube that was specially designed for this Olympic premiere of aid climbing. Truly ground breaking stuff."

"Reporter A: When we get back from commercial, we'll cut to some pot smoke rising out of Team America's portaledge as day 14 of aid climbing continues."

JoeP · · Littleton, CO · Joined Sep 2006 · Points: 0
Jeff J wrote:"Reporter A: When we get back from commercial, we'll cut to some pot smoke rising out of Team America's portaledge as day 14 of aid climbing continues."
Day 15 - Team America disqualified for using PEDs.

As to the OP, I believe climbing was in the first X-Games and was a complete flop, just not enough action. Speed climbing might have been the most viewed event, but let's be honest, speed climbing is just lame. But that was what, 15 years ago? Maybe there is enough interest now . . .
Ryan Nevius · · Perchtoldsdorf, AT · Joined Dec 2010 · Points: 1,837

That rc.com post is one of the most hilarious things I have read on here...thanks Jeff.

Buff Johnson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2005 · Points: 1,145

If they just combined it with the javelin throw

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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