The Olympics
Well, with the conclusion of the Paris 2024 Olympics, maybe this is a good time to see which sports finally got added and how new sports generally get selected. The reason the Olympics excite me is that they show the best talent of the world through different sports, including some of which we usually do not get to see.
With that, the Olympic Games in Paris debuted with Japan's Ami Yuasa and Canada's Philip Kim bringing home the gold medals in breakdancing. I mean, to see finally breakdancing on that kind of platform, it's exciting beyond words. How exciting it will be is yet to show any real signs that it features in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
The types of sports to be included in the Olympic Games are determined by the International Olympic Committee, otherwise known as the IOC, and different countries. They actually have a tough time selecting, considering the popularity of the sport and the interest it creates.
Skateboarding, climbing, and surfing all made their debuts at the Tokyo Olympics. They did well enough to join the Paris Olympic program. Karate and baseball were added only to those Games. But the serious return of baseball and softball will be in LA in 2028, which, really, should be a good spectacle given the LA Dodgers will be in town.
Some of these sports have remained throughout Olympic history, while some vanished. Gymnastics, athletics, cycling, fencing, and swimming have appeared at every Summer Olympics since 1896. Artistic swimming, table tennis, badminton, beach volleyball, mountain biking, and taekwondo just made it into the mix at a certain point and stayed.
On the other side, there have been sports like tug-of-war, polo, and lacrosse that made an appearance only to be scrapped later. It's always a shame to see any particular sport go because, quite apart from the loss in general, it can also be one of the favorites, however this is what keeps the Games fresh and exciting.
The Winter Olympics are focused on sports played on snow or ice and were, therefore, held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, in 2026. They include events such as skiing, ice hockey, bobsledding, and curling. Curling is one of those various strange sports that seem to have managed the elusive trick of fading back from, as well as into, the Olympic limelight.
From the ancient games in Greece, essentially composed of running, jumping, and wrestling, the Olympics have really come a long way. Today's Olympics include traditional and modern sports that reflect our diverse world.
From what new sports are going to be added, to which ones are going to become the fan favorite, it's going to be an exciting ride. What really makes these Games so interesting is the changing Olympic lineup, making it relevant to all age groups.
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