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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask why netball isn't an Olympic sport?

71 replies

Catspaws · 15/04/2018 10:17

Have really got into it watching the commonwealth games and can't understand why it's not an Olympic sport!

It's the most widely-played women's sport in most commonwealth countries AND it would be a really democratic one to promote and encourage because it doesn't need lots of expensive equipment.

I'd love to see it at the olympics, it's been my favourite thing to watch the last week!

OP posts:
manicinsomniac · 15/04/2018 18:03

Is the one sex only thing a problem? There's no men in synchronised swimming or rhythmic gymnastics (or does that not count because those two events are subcategories of swimming and gymnastics?)

I can see why it should be included but, at the same time, you can't go on for ever including every sport under the sun, I guess. Though they do seem to be getting that way! Now that we have tennis, rugby and football (and handball!?!) , I can see the case for Netball. But maybe that's just because it's such a common sport here that it's hard to appreciate that many countries won't have a clue about it.

I was astounded to see Bowls in the Commonwealth Games. To be honest, I didn't even realise it was a sport. In my head, it was something my grandma played in the 80s/90s with lots of other pensioners (Crown Green Bowls - idk if that's a different thing). And then there was Carpet Bowls which I used to play as part of 'family fun nights' on church weekends away. To see athletic, mature-but-not-older adults playing it at such a competitive level was a real surprise to me. But I liked it. It's good to see such a diversity of sports at different international competitions, I think.

megletthesecond · 15/04/2018 18:05

Because it's not as fun to play or watch as basketball.

ClashCityRocker · 15/04/2018 18:20

Didn't we have handball in the 2012 Olympics?

And we made up a team for it?

I reckon we could cobble together a mens team for netball...

nocake · 15/04/2018 18:22

There are loads of sports that aren't in the Olympics. To get a new one in takes a fair amount of work from the international governing body of the sport, to persuade the Olympic committee that it's worth a place. IMHO there are sports that should be kicked out because the Olympic gold isn't the peak of the achievement in the sport. Road cycling, tennis, golf... for starters. I'd be very happy to see netball in.

manicinsomniac · 15/04/2018 18:29

nocake - don't a couple of new sports get added every time the Olympics comes round? I think sports have to be apply for consideration and be voted on. Tennis and, I think, Golf are fairly new. Rugby 7s was new for 2016 (or maybe 2012, I can't remember). In 2020 Skateboarding and Surfing are being added, I think!

I don't know if any ever get chucked out.

nocake · 15/04/2018 18:33

You're right. Golf was a re-entry for the last Olympics but it still shouldn't be there. There are tournaments that are more valued in the golfing world than the Olympics.

Climbing is in next time, although there is some controversy in the climbing community over the format of the competition.

annandale · 15/04/2018 18:33

What meglet says. Imagine if all the people who currently play netball in this country started playing basketball instead. So, so much better.

jay55 · 15/04/2018 18:38

Are baseball and softball played globally? They're going back in. I think netball has been fun to watch at commonwealths and it was so nice to have a womens team event not overshadowed by the mens.

Flutteringkites · 15/04/2018 18:40

I agree with dementedma I hated netball at school! shudder

Mind you, I’m sure I would have had a better experience if my PE teacher wasn’t a bitch on wheels.

Would be nice to see netball promoted in a positive light and give kids more sporty role models.

SaucyJane · 15/04/2018 18:42

Maybe because basketball has such a following and it's seen as too similar in America? Only a guess!

I loved playing it at school (although I was pretty shite!), but not sure I'd watch it as I would something like tennis.

Blobby10 · 15/04/2018 18:46

I was 'traumatised' by netball at school and therefore hate it Grin but watched some of the Commonwealth games and was amazed at how fast it is - so different to the pedestrian and plodding game I played at school! It was great to watch.

toffee1000 · 15/04/2018 18:48

Squash is difficult as it’s traditionally played in a box and not so great as a spectator sport, most of the squash box walls in the Commonwealth games were coloured so not very transparent.
We only had a handball team in 2012 as we were the host country, the host country automatically qualifies for every sport, which athletes qualify is different. We don’t usually have a handball team as it’s not a major sport here, unlike in mainland Europe for example.

ForalltheSaints · 15/04/2018 18:56

I think it being largely a women's game is not the issue, more likely to be that it is not a possible medal chance for the US or China.

massistar · 16/04/2018 14:47

Literally gobsmacked at the PP who said netball is shit as a spectator sport. Do yourself a favour and watch Eng v Jam or Eng V Aus over the last couple of days. Fast paced, dynamic, athletic and soooo exciting to watch!

We had a chance to add it to the Olympics in London and didn't. Considering the amount of dull, niche sports that are included it is mad that the sport played by more women in the world than any other isn't included. I'm guessing because it's not played by men and because it's not played in the US, Russia or China.

massistar · 16/04/2018 14:49

Basketball is completely dull in comparison. Just get some super tall blokes to plonk it in a massive net with the aid of a backboard.

Original poster
Catspaws · 16/04/2018 15:27

I don't think it can be because it is a female only sport because there are other sports which are female only - for example synchronised swimming and rhythmic gymnastics. Only women do heptathlon and only men do decathlon.

I also think netball could as easily be a men's sport as a women's!

Re earlier comment on it being democratic, I meant that in the broad sense - that you don't need to be wealthy or connected to access it (unlike rowing, sailing, equestrianism, cycling etc) as it doesn't take fancy equipment or facilities. That means it's more meritocratic - almost anyone with the skill has the opportunity to be good at it, not just those who can afford to pay for it.

OP posts:
SadieHH · 16/04/2018 15:27

Basketball is dull as shit, far far rather watch netball.

Bringmejavabringmejoy · 16/04/2018 15:38

My DNiece does synchronized ice skating. They tried to get it recognised as an Olympic sport for 2018 but didn't have a huge wad of cash to bung to the Olympic Committee

Fingers crossed for 2022 - it's a fantastic sport for skaters and spectators

Bringmejavabringmejoy · 16/04/2018 16:57

.

ScottishG · 17/04/2018 00:03

The brilliant Commonwealth Games netball reminded my ds(15) how disappointed he was not be able to play netball at high school.
In his primary school netball was very popular amongst girls and boys and coached by the (male) deputy head.

BackforGood · 17/04/2018 00:15

I am pretty sure that there was acomment on the radio recently and it said that all olympic games have to be male and female, they don't have any games which are sex specific. So as netball is primarily a women's game, and there isn't a complete male equivalent it doesn't get olympic status.

Not sure I agree with this either - sports like boxing have been in for years before a women's competition was very recently added (2012 I think was the first time ?). Plus, as others have said, syncronised swimming, and rhthmic gymnastics seem to be all women.

In this link (5 yrs old) it says there are 30 disciplines at the Olympics that women don't take part in, against 2 that men don't.

Downtheroadfirstonleft · 17/04/2018 00:54

Netball is too boring. It's too similar to basketball, which is much better.

toffee1000 · 17/04/2018 02:45

There was an article on the BBC site about how netball is “strangled” by funding. So it seems like money is the issue.

Taffeta · 17/04/2018 10:01

Netball is too boring. It's too similar to basketball, which is much better.

Basketball is the dullest ball sport there is!!! Just a bunch of tall people throwing a ball at a backboard. Much less skill.

Ifailed · 17/04/2018 10:16

There a few sports in the Olympics that could be dropped to make way for Netball, ones that are only accessible to rich countries and their wealthier residents - sailing and the horsey stuff to name two.

I suspect the main reason is it's not popular in those countries that have the biggest clout with the organisers of the Olympics as it's now predominately about sponsorship and money.

If they wanted to make the Olympics truly democratic and accessible to all, they should only include sports where the equipment required to participate can be bought for a few £s, or can be made with local materials. Netball just needs a court marked out, a couple of rings on posts and a ball.