Would you like to see Synchronized Skating as an Olympic event someday?

[FSWer]

Say,a response to my last thread gave me the idea for this topic. So what I'd like to know from all of you is if you'ld like to see Synchro. as an Olympic sport someday? BTW. Personally in my opinion,with all it's growing popularity. I don't even see why it's having such a hard time becoming one. If you vote yes. Please say why you think it should. For me I think it should because with ALL the tricks and the lifts the Seniors do, and with all their hard work.....they surely deserve it and deserve to be seen!!!!! Ok.....time to vote.

[smelltheice]

Synchronised swimming is an olympic event (although the rules say it must be all female) so why not synchro skating but allowing men in the teams.

[Skittl1321]

If synchronized diving got in, I think skating should make it in too!

There would probably be issues with the teams with men, swimming is having a lot of issues with that. There really isn't any sport where men compete against women. Pairs skating has men and women- but it's an even number per team. Synch skating has the issue that some teams have men and others don't.


(For the record, LOVE synchronized diving, not a fan of synch swimming, and love synch skating.)

[Artemis]

If synchronized diving got in, I think skating should make it in too!

ITA! Synchro diving is sort of a "made up" sport as far as I see it, whereas synchro skating is extremely popular. It's a no-brainer for me.

There really isn't any sport where men compete against women.

Actually, there's one: equestrian. But in those events, the horse is the equalizer.

I wouldn't think that gender balance would be a real issue for synchro skating (or swimming, for that matter). Superior muscular strength isn't a real issue, and in fact one could argue that women have superior flexibility, which is an advantage in both.

[FSWer]

If synchronized diving got in, I think skating should make it in too!

There would probably be issues with the teams with men, swimming is having a lot of issues with that. There really isn't any sport where men compete against women. Pairs skating has men and women- but it's an even number per team. Synch skating has the issue that some teams have men and others don't.


(For the record, LOVE synchronized diving, not a fan of synch swimming, and love synch skating.)


Issues? LOL. The only kind of issues I see with that are destrimanation and of course men not being pretty and gorgous like the girls. BTW. I could see a lot of divers bumping into each other and crowding a diving board. LOL.

[kayskate]

I would love to see synchro in the Olys. It would give more skaters an oppy to compete and maybe even get more men involved in skating. Plus it would ultimately grow the sport of synchro.

BTW, I would also like to see solo dance in the Olys.

Kay

[blue111moon]

I think it's already being proposed, which is why there are international synchro competitions being held.

The issue, I believe, concerns the number of athletes involved and the logistics of housing, training, venues and time added to the Olympic cost structure. It has to be economically feasible for the IOC to add any sport to the program.

[Artemis]

The issue, I believe, concerns the number of athletes involved and the logistics of housing, training, venues and time added to the Olympic cost structure. It has to be economically feasible for the IOC to add any sport to the program.

Oh, it's definitely not a light decision, I agree. But: a few years back the IOC made a decision do do away with singles synchro swimming in favour of the team event, the rationale being that more athletes could compete. So there certainly seems to be a will in that direction.

But I have an easy solution to the numbers problem: eliminate the men's hockey event. :twisted:

[Skittl1321]

Oh, it's definitely not a light decision, I agree. But: a few years back the IOC made a decision do do away with singles synchro swimming in favour of the team event, the rationale being that more athletes could compete. So there certainly seems to be a will in that direction.

But I have an easy solution to the numbers problem: eliminate the men's hockey event. :twisted:

What is singles synchro swimming? How do you do something synchronized as a single?

(I tried to look it up, but only found what I know as the team event. Interestingly, wikipedia says teams do not wear goggles, which is probably true, but their picture on the synchro swim page is of a team in goggles :))

[blue111moon]

I think one of the other considerations is the number of IOC Member Countries who participate in the sport. So just because it's big in some areas (like the US, Canada and Sweden) isn't enough; when little countries like Korea, Montenegro and South Africa start fielding teams at the Synchro World Championships, then the IOC will take action.

I've heard that they want to increase the size of the Winter Games. The problem has been finding sports that take place on ice or snow, which is THE requirement for the Winter Games. Synchro fits that bill anyway.

So I wouldn't be surprised to see Synchro at the Olympics - if not in 2010, most likely by 2014.

[Sylvia]

Here's the link to an article from 2005 titled: "Synchronized skating: Will it qualify for the Olympics?"
http://www.journalism.ryerson.ca/online/hubbub/physical/rdelisle.htm
To receive consideration by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a sport must have 25 participating nations.
17 countries had senior level teams that competed at 2008 Synchro Worlds -- see: http://www.isufs.org/results/syswc2008/CAT001EN.HTM

[Artemis]

What is singles synchro swimming? How do you do something synchronized as a single?

I know, seems like a bit of an oxymoron doesn't it? But basically it's most of the stuff team synchro swimmers do (minus the lifting each other moves, obviously), but solo. Should probably be called rhythmic swimming or swim ballet or something like that, but there you go.