The Olympic Games started in 1896 from Athens, Greece. At that time only 241 players had participated. Today this number has exceeded 10,000. The Olympic Games have undergone many changes over time. Nearly 100 new competitions have been added since 1980. But not every sport can become a part of the Olympics. Only a few selected sports are included in the Olympics.
Process to include sports in Olympics
To make a sport a part of the Olympics, it first has to be recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC ensures that the sport is governed by an international organization that oversees the rules and management of the sport. After this the sport gets the status of International Sports Federation (IF).
In addition, that sport is required to follow the World Anti-Doping Code. This means that players should have dope tests so that the game can be conducted in a fair manner.
Is every recognized sport included in the Olympics?
No, not every recognized sport is included in the Olympics. For example, chess and bowling are recognized, but are not part of the Olympic Games. For any sport to become a part of the Olympics, the International Sports Federation has to apply to the IOC. The application must prove how many countries participate in the sport, how popular it is, and whether its requirements are suitable for the Olympics.
The IOC may incorporate sport in three forms:
- Sport: Triathlon was added as a sport in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
- Discipline: This is a branch of any sport. For example, women’s wrestling was added as a new wrestling discipline in the 2004 Athens Olympics.
- Event: It is a part of a game. For example, women’s pole vaulting was included as a track and field event.
Strategy for adding new games and removing old ones
In recent years, the IOC has adopted a policy of adding new sports and eliminating old sports to balance the scope of the Olympic Games. The decision to add or remove a sport is made based on the sport’s popularity, number of players, cost of organizing the event, and media interest.
Which games were removed and which were added back?
Many sports that were previously part of the Olympics were later removed. For example, sports such as tug of war, polo, power boating, and water skiing were previously part of the Olympics, but were later removed. At the same time, sports like cricket and lacrosse were removed earlier, but now they have been included again.
Future games and changes
The IOC now gives priority to sports that are popular among youth. Recently sports like skateboarding, surfing and breakdancing have been added to the Olympics. Additionally, there is discussion about removing traditional sports, especially if they are low in popularity or difficult to organize.
Selecting sports for the Olympics is a long and deliberate process. Its aim is to ensure that sport remains fair, exciting and attractive to modern-day audiences.
Cricket and Olympics
Cricket has participated in the Olympics only once, which was at the Paris Olympics in 1900. There was a two-day match in which the Devon and Somerset Wanderers team of Great Britain defeated the team of France. Now, there is a proposal to include cricket in the T20 format in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Nowadays, the return of cricket to the Olympics may be due to the huge popularity of Virat Kohli. Kohli’s brilliant game and captaincy has made cricket very famous all over the world. Due to his performance and the growing influence of the Indian cricket team, cricket is again getting a place in the Olympics. The T20 format of cricket is now being considered for inclusion in the Olympics, and its appeal has increased because of players like Virat Kohli.
