{"id":26977,"date":"2021-08-06T08:22:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-05T22:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=26977"},"modified":"2021-08-10T11:21:55","modified_gmt":"2021-08-10T01:21:55","slug":"bizarre-olympic-events","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2021\/08\/bizarre-olympic-events\/","title":{"rendered":"Bizarre Events at the Games"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If Keegan Palmer can win gold for the Aussies skateboarding in Tokyo&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/7olympics\/status\/1423133539403509760?s=20<\/p>\n<p>Or Logan Martin brings hit home in BMX&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/7olympics\/status\/1421671225072537601?s=20<\/p>\n<p>Then Australia can win gold in breakdancing at Paris 2024!<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Olympic organizers in Paris formally submitted breakdancing as a new competition they want to introduce to the games when they come to the City of Lights in summer 2024. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/r20kRXz7jd\">https:\/\/t.co\/r20kRXz7jd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NBC News (@NBCNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NBCNews\/status\/1420677745974157316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 29, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s right, breakdancing will be in the Olympics in 2024 to try and draw in a younger viewership.<\/p>\n<p>Firstly, we&#8217;re not offering breakdancing markets for Paris just yet, but I&#8217;m willing to (responsibly) part with some of my hard-earned for Aussie gold in the electric boogaloo discipline.<\/p>\n<p>Before you go off saying what a joke this is, it\u2019s worth remembering most of you thought skateboarding in the Olympics was a joke, then we won GOLD.<\/p>\n<p>Besides, the games have a long and proud history for all sorts of weird and wonderful events.<\/p>\n<p>They have to fill out 16 days of programming somehow, not to mention the early editions where it really was the wild west of event management.<\/p>\n<p>In the 1904 Men\u2019s marathon, the winner received rat poison and brandy as sustenance, another competitor nearly died from dust inhalation running behind officials cars and the guy who finished in fourth showed up on a whim, ran in street clothes and ate a rotten apple during the event.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s run through some of the other genius ideas they have had to spice up the Olympics in the past.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Race Walking<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>It\u2019s basically long distance running without actually being allowed to run.<\/p>\n<p>At least doing an event like the marathon, you\u2019re allowed to go as fast as you can, in race walking you have to follow all of these strange stepping guidelines.<\/p>\n<p>Plus I\u2019m still bitter about Jane Saville\u2019s horrendous disqualification in 2000 (she was robbed in broad daylight!)<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Jared Tallent is through 10km in 4th position with 50.25 after 10km. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/iDFEWoEStq\">pic.twitter.com\/iDFEWoEStq<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AthsAust\/status\/1200880264970297344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 30, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h5><strong>Club Swinging <\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Now we have things like baton twirling, rhythmic gymnastics and those people on the beach who light sticks on fire for this sort of showmanship.<\/p>\n<p>In the St Louis 1904 Games, contestants had to twirl gigantic bowling pins in a flashy manner.<\/p>\n<p>Now when you search for club swinging this is what you get\u2026 although on second thought it could be a lot worse.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TigerWoods?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@TigerWoods<\/a> is swinging the club again. Here are some reminders of why that&#39;s so exciting. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dGoeu0tyYH\">pic.twitter.com\/dGoeu0tyYH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; U.S. Open (@usopengolf) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/usopengolf\/status\/917146621053489153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 8, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h5><strong>Solo Synchronised Swimming<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Who or what are you synchronising with?<\/p>\n<p>When there\u2019s multiple people doing some sort of choreographed routine it actually makes sense.<\/p>\n<p>But one person in a whole lot of waterproof makeup flailing about in a pool like an extra on Jaws 7?<\/p>\n<p>Not for me.<\/p>\n<p>It lasted for three Summer Olympics in 1984, 1988 and 1992 before being replaced with a teams event.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/Swim_England\/status\/1122104228812664832?s=20<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Swimming Obstacle Course<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>\u201cIn this edition of \u2018Wipeout!\u2019 the contestants will be not only swimming 200m but also having to dodge some boats, climb over other boats and get through all sorts of other obstacles.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Given some of the places that have hosted the Olympics, it\u2019s probably a good thing this never made it past Paris 1900.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps it could be rebooted in the future as a different sort of obstacle course involving water.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wipeout - Funny moments * Fails * | HD\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-tYx8GcP864?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><strong>Diving for Distance <\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Remember as a kid going to the friend\u2019s house who had a pool &amp; seeing who could hold their breath the longest?<\/p>\n<p>A decent lung capacity could have earned you an Olympic Gold Medal at one point in time.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Tug of War<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Another high point for the Paris 1900 organisers (and I use that descriptor very loosely) in that a combined team from Sweden and Denmark won the gold medal.<\/p>\n<p>This event continued right through to 1920 with Great Britain still technically the defending Olympic champions in this event.<\/p>\n<p>Now this is just a way to pass time in high school PE classes and college fraternities.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The final round for Tug-of-War between <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ValpoPIKE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ValpoPIKE<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ValpoPhiMuAlpha?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ValpoPhiMuAlpha<\/a> at <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ValpoGreekWeek?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ValpoGreekWeek<\/a> Greek Olympics!! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Vl8ojpaSLw\">pic.twitter.com\/Vl8ojpaSLw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Valparaiso University Fraternity and Sorority Life (@ValpoFSL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ValpoFSL\/status\/855925571259387911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 22, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h5><strong>Rope Climbing <\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Another event that now is pretty much limited to high schools had a run in the gymnastics program in five Olympics.<\/p>\n<p>Personally, running the marathon sounds like a much more appealing option than trying to climb the rope.<\/p>\n<p>However, Rock Climbing at the games has been a sight to behold.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The giant robot in the background really makes the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/climbing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#climbing<\/a> photos that much cooler! \ud83e\uddd7 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/j7X6Kj0R2U\">pic.twitter.com\/j7X6Kj0R2U<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; The Olympic Games (@Olympics) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Olympics\/status\/1423215649728385029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 5, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h5><strong>Pistol Duelling <\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Another one for the \u201chow did this get approved?\u201d file.<\/p>\n<p>Before you get too excited, instead of firing at one another the contestants would apparently shoot at a mannequin instead.<\/p>\n<p>Admittedly a much safer strategy but it does kind of lessen the stakes of the gold medal matchup.<\/p>\n<p>It would be so much cooler to see them recreate this scene from The Man With The Golden Gun.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Man with the Golden  Gun, 1973 Duel    Scene   720p\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9IOeLIhqDuE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><strong>Live Pigeon Shooting<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>This one probably wouldn\u2019t pass the initial suggestion box in 2020 but in Paris 1900 over 300 birds were shot over the course of the competition.<\/p>\n<p>Donald Mackintosh, an Australian competing under the British flag, shot 22 pigeons to win the 20 franc entrance fee division.<\/p>\n<p>Unsurprisingly this event was not brought back for the next Olympics and officially these are now considered as \u201cexcluded events\u201d on the official records.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a much cleaner process to shoot at the clay pigeons they now use instead of the live ones.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, bringing back live pigeon shooting into the Olympics could lead to some interesting ways to settle rivalries between the competitors.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/gifs\/filmeditor-movie-comedy-l1ugfz8k3j3ALRKtW\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media1.giphy.com\/media\/l1ugfz8k3j3ALRKtW\/giphy.gif\" alt=\"Wedding Crashers Comedy GIF - Find &amp; Share on GIPHY\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h5><strong>La Cane<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Don\u2019t bother translating this from French, this event literally is just two guys hitting each other with canes.<\/p>\n<p>Think fencing but less stabby, more bruisy.<\/p>\n<p>Once again, there is something to be learned for both events from James Bond.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/tobysnews\/status\/1236326569385263104?s=20<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Steeplechase <\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Running is tough enough, let alone hurdling.<\/p>\n<p>Ask any runner what the worst thing that can happen and that is stepping into a puddle, yet this event requires it.<\/p>\n<p>Not to mention the headaches when your jump goes wrong.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Uganda&#39;s Jacob Araptany had one nasty fall in the 3,000m steeplechase final <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/athletics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#athletics<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Rio2016?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Rio2016<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/INbrbfx2rT\">pic.twitter.com\/INbrbfx2rT<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Alex R Terrell (@alxterrell) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/alxterrell\/status\/765946470273081344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 17, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h5><strong>Dressage<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Equestrian in and of itself is a worthy inclusion, but why on earth to the riders get all the credit when they just sit there and let the horse do all the damn work?!<\/p>\n<p>Give the medals to the horses!<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&quot;I&#39;ll never forget that experience.&quot; \u2764\ufe0f<\/p>\n<p>Wowing us with heartfelt passion, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CathrineDufour?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CathrineDufour<\/a> reveals her ultimate FEI Dressage World Cup Moment. With eyes shining, Denmark&#39;s dancing queen shares those magical memories that will last forever. \ud83e\udd29<\/p>\n<p>Watch more \ud83d\udc49<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/c26WXeNlp2\">https:\/\/t.co\/c26WXeNlp2<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/N6jY8VxrCx\">pic.twitter.com\/N6jY8VxrCx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; The FEI (@FEI_Global) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FEI_Global\/status\/1335539481647177730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 6, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If Keegan Palmer can win gold for the Aussies skateboarding in Tokyo&#8230; https:\/\/twitter.com\/7olympics\/status\/1423133539403509760?s=20 Or Logan Martin brings hit home in BMX&#8230; https:\/\/twitter.com\/7olympics\/status\/1421671225072537601?s=20 Then Australia can win gold in breakdancing at Paris 2024! Olympic organizers in Paris formally submitted breakdancing as a new competition they want to introduce to the games when they come to the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":26978,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[598,344],"tags":[5978,5979,466,465,5981,1187,5980],"hub_post_cat":[],"class_list":["post-26977","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-special-interest","category-sports","tag-athletics","tag-gymnastics","tag-olympic-games","tag-olympics","tag-paris-olympics","tag-swimming","tag-tokyo-olympics"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":null,"md_tip_date_end":null,"md_market_url":"","tip_date":"06\/08\/2021","event_country":"Australia"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26977","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26977"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26977\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26977"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26977"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26977"},{"taxonomy":"hub_post_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hub_post_cat?post=26977"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}