Many sporting events have always been part of the Olympics. Other sports were part of the Summer or Winter Olympics in the past but aren’t any longer.
Unusual Discontinued Olympic Sports
According to Olympic.org, a sport becomes part of the Olympics if it is carried out by an International Federation, is widely practiced and it must be recommended by the International Olympic Program Commission (IOC). Often a sport will also be demonstrated at an Olympic games to try to garner more attention and recognition for it.
Many Olympic events have always been part of people’s Olympic memory. It would seem inconceivable to watch the Summer Olympics without track and field events, or the Winter Olympics without skiing and skating. But according to a large list of discontinued Olympic sports compiled by the Rob Wood’s website Top End Sports, there are many sports that would seem inconceivable as an actual Olympic sporting event today.
- The official Winter Olympic Games started after the Summer Olympics had been held for many years. Part of this was due to the fact that future winter sports like figure skating and hockey were held for a time as part of the Summer Olympic Games.
- From 1900-1920 the ancient sport of tug of war was held as part of the track and field program. Olympic controversy shrouded this event in 1908 when one of England’s competing tug of war teams wore large heavy shoes. They were allowed to compete despite this rules violation and an American protest.
- Live Pigeon Shooting was held at the 1900 Olympics. The goal was to shoot and kill as many live pigeons as possible and if a shooter missed two pigeons they were out of the competition.
- The 200 meter Obstacle Race Swimming was only at the 1900 Olympics. The goal was for a swimmer to climb over a pole and over and under a row of boats in the River Seine.
- According to an article on Fox News.com the 1984 Summer Games premiered the event of solo synchronized swimming where the point was for the swimmer to swim in synch with the music. It was dropped after the 1992 Olympic Games for obvious reasons.
- An ESPN.com article relates that women made their competitive debut at the Olympics in 1900 in the sport of croquet.
- A full list of discontinued Olympic Sports can be viewed on the Top End Sports website.
Olympic sporting events will come and go depending on decisions made by the IOC. For example, baseball and softball have been dropped from the next Summer Olympics. These same sports might reappear at later Olympics. As times change, new sports like the relatively recent inclusion of snowboarding will rise and have their moment of Olympic glory.
Sources:
Associated Press. (July 7, 2008). “Former Olympic Sports Come Right from the Playground.” Fox News.com.
Merron, Jeff. (no date given). “Discontinued Olympic Sports.” ESPN.com.
Miranda Zinnel - I hold a B.A double major in social studies education and history. I also hold a minor in political science. I have also completed my ...
