to think curling shouldn't really be an olympic sport?

[paisleyleaf]

I mean, skittles isn't.

sailing

So really, we're down to just the 100m then, if we're talking about what makes good telly?

YANBU. curlers aren't exactly the most athletic people around.

on the other hand, it's a slippery slope. if you get rid of curling you'd have people arguing against luge/skeleton/bobsled/etc.

What about equestrian? I mean I know the rider trains hard but isn't it really the horse doing most of the work? I would like to see people doing dressage and show jumping. Now THAT would be a sport!

What about people who say that chess is a sport?

Curling is brilliant and probably one of the oldest winter sports.

If you think that it is skittles, try doing it yourself.

Curling is one of the most suspensful and strategic of all the winter sports.

"suspensful and strategic"?!

well, MmeBlueberry, you've given me a laugh this afternoon. And for that, I thank you.

Have you actually watched it, poutine? My 10 year old has and she is completely hooked. She even skipped and episode of iCarly and Hannah Montana to watch it.

YABU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have i watched it? Goodness no, I try and avoid it all costs, despite avidlywatching the rest of the Olympics.

I have had to play a few times, however. Only the promise that the losing team has to buy the winning team a drink kept me going. It was mind-numbingly tedious. If it does it for curlers, great. But an Olympic sport? I think not.

Curling is great to watch. Very hypnotic. Like bowling in slow motion.

Maybe there should be a 'sports' olympics (fastest, highest, longest etc) and a 'skills' olympics (artistic and tick-box- judging stuff)

I can't see the point of tennis and football in the olympics - they have big tournaments of their own.

This thread is going to piss me off big time. Torvill and Dean underwent a series of tests during training in the eighties. They used up more energy in a 4 minute routine than an ice hockey player used over an entire match. You have to be tip top physical fitness, you have to have the strength, stamina, you put in hours of training every single day. You have to hit your peak on that day, otherwise all the effort is for nothing, same as a runner or a swimmer. Same with gymnasts. So try telling these people that their sport shouldn't be in the olympics.

And now I'm hiding this thread because I can feel my blood pressure going up already. Nothing worse than people who know nothing about the sports in question pontificating about whether it is fit for an olympic games that they admit they don't even watch.

"You have to be tip top physical fitness, you have to have the strength, stamina, you put in hours of training every single day."

Sorry, Rockbird, that doesn't apply to curling (the subject of the OP). And no amount of arguming on your part will convince me otherwise!! (and I have personally known competitive curlers.)

arguming?! arguing

I love the Olympics-whether Summer or Winter, but there are a few sports I'm a little bit "iffy" about. I'm quite happy with skiing and skating-whether dance or speed, and as you wouldn't get me anywhere near a bobsleigh run then anyone using it, either in a bobsleigh or on a tray- is more than welcome in the Olympics. But this snowboarding just baffles me. I can see it looks fun but it seems to be the snow equivalent of a skatepark, and I don't think that should be an Olympic sport either!

yabvu - I love watching, thrilling and takes so much teamwork and precision.

I also love snooker, but hate golf and darts.

I think it is a sport of people want to compete to win. I have never looked up the actual definition though.

I tried curling the other week in a bonspiel for work. It is harder than it looks. You have to be very flexible, and have strength in your leg muscles for steadyness on the ice. Brooming (to melt\soften) the ice to make the rock speed up or even turn direction is very physical and leaves an unfit person breathless. Then you have the strategy of where to place the rock.

I'd say any "game" with physical exertion is a sport. A game where you are sitting on your bum using only your mental agility is a game.

Some consider lifting a chess piece to be physical exertion, I suppose it depends on your fitness level

fwiw, I always thought dancing (including on ice) was a sport.

But surely dancing is about the art and beauty?

I think they should have dog agility at the olympics. Dog agility on ice at the winter olympics would be quite dangerous.
DH says that it doesn't count because the dog does it all but then surely horse jumping is the same and that is an olympic sport.

Dog agility on skates....mmmmm I'm seeing a new sport developing....

not as bad as the sledgy one where 2 of them sit on top of each other

reminds me of my kids going down on each other's laps on slides

2 man luge, dd has just informed me

that one is just odd. and doesn't look comfortable.

Yup I agree, in our house we call it olympic sweeping, it is not a 'proper' sport

I agree with whoever said sports should only be what can be objectively measured; fastest, heaviest etc., all this stuff about training is beside the point.

Now the "sport" which really makes me cringe is the whore-ish synchronised swimming. All those women gurning and primping, like burlesque dancers.

Dancing seems like a sport to me because they have competitions called 'festivals' etc. I prefer it when it is about the 'art' though, much more enjoyable.