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Should motorsports be in the Olympics?

Discussion in 'Formula One Discussion' started by F1 Shift.net, Aug 17, 2012.

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Motorsports in the Olympics?

Yes 6 21.4%
No 22 78.6%
  1. F1 Shift.net Rookie

    I made a short post on my blog about this topic, so I'm not going to go over a ton of details, just wanted to hear your opinions.

    I feel it's time for motorsport to be part of The Games in a Race of Champions style competition with multiple types of vehicle, maybe multiple styles of track. Haven't figured out all the details in my head yet, but racing drivers are some of the top athletes (maybe not Tony Stewart in NASCAR) in the world and deserve to have a gold, silver or bronze medal hung around their necks.

    Your thoughts? or vote
    Greenlantern101 likes this.
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  3. Brogan Running Man

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    The Olympics is, or should be, about human fitness, strength, endurance, ability, and skill.
    For this reason, powered vehicles should not be included as that removes key components.

    (For the same reason, "sports" involving horses also shouldn't be included.)
    Josephiah and teabagyokel like this.
  4. F1Yorkshire Has an army of cider drinking squirrels.

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    The original Olympics included chariot racing. Chariot driving was deemed a skill that was necessary for warfare along with many other of the ancient Olympic disciplines.

    I still think motorsports should not be included in the modern Olympics
    gethinceri likes this.
  5. Brogan Running Man

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    Chariot racing was added later.

    This however undermines the argument: "In the chariot racing event, it was not the rider, but the owner of the chariot and team who was considered to be the competitor, so one owner could win more than one of the top spots."
  6. Speshal Champion Elect

    Gold for team GB then ;)
  7. sushifiesta Race Winner

    From the FIA web-site FAQ about them joining the IOC:
    So it won't be happening any time soon I think.

    Personally, I'd quite like to see it. The hosts could provide a fleet of identical cars (even karts) to bring the costs down and remove the element of the guy with the biggest pocket winning. One issue would be participation levels in Africa, in particular, but that's true for many other sports in the Olympics I guess. The cars should/could be electric, to bring it more in line with the Olympic spirit.

    Then you have the debate about which sports should be in the Olympics. Motorsport requires as much skill as any sport, and requires more strength and endurance than some others so for me that's a non-issue really. I find it surprising that we have people denying this on a F1 forum. I understand people wanting it to be a pure test of human strength somehow, but the majority of Olympic sports do require some sort of equipment. The fact is, the Olympics is not just about athletics and swimming.
    rufus_mcdufus likes this.
  8. Greenlantern101 Super Hero And All Round Good Guy

    There are a several sports in the olympics that are about skill rather than physical ability. Shooting and archery come to mind.
    Driving in motorsport is a skill. I think if it were to be added it would have to be in a category where all the cars were the same even down to being provided by 1 single supplier (no teams).

    How about go-karts, then top drivers from any motorsport field could apply, you could have knock out stages / races to see who goes into the final.

    I have voted yes. Why not, they let golf in.
    rufus_mcdufus likes this.
  9. Jos the Boss Champion Elect

    I'd be willing to put myself forward!
    But, yes, have karting or something like that
  10. F1 Shift.net Rookie

    I think there are many sports in the Olympics where the test of human skill also depends on another factor. The previously mentioned equestrian, sailing, maybe even shooting or archery to some extent. Yes the cars are powered by engines, but it takes some serious skill, endurance, concentration, ect to race in motorsports.
  11. Jos the Boss Champion Elect

    It may be powered by engines, but without the peopl they aren't going anywhere
  12. Galahad Not a Moderator

    The prohibition on sports with a means of propulsion was lifted in 2007, and the FIA have recently signed up to the relevant Anti-Doping procedures and been recognised by the IOC.

    So in principle it could happen, though I believe it should not.
  13. Would it be a spec-series, though? Because otherwise teams would have to collaborate due to their nationalities being different and could potentially steal ideas of one another?
  14. tooncheese Hans Heyer

    I would like to see motor racing replace Horse riding in the Modern Pentathlon, its more relevant to today's soldiers.
  15. Jen Here at last!

    Sort of 'how fast can a tank go' relevance :)
  16. sportsman Sidecar racers have the biggest cojones

    It will never happen.204 nations took part in the 2012 Olympics with each competitor spending at least one year in training for the event.
    So the Olympic commitee buy 204 go karts and send one to each country expecting to qualify for the Rio Olypics.
    Or are those nations expected to buy their own.No matter how poor a nation is training for most events can be carried out by the individuals themselves.Few can afford to buy and run go karts for their expected entrants.
  17. Galahad Not a Moderator

    Not a million miles away from the situation in track cycling, though.
  18. teabagyokel Pole > P9

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    tooncheese - would it have to be an unfamiliar tank.
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  19. sportsman Sidecar racers have the biggest cojones

    Track cycling takes place every summer season.Not once every four years.
  20. Jos the Boss Champion Elect

    204 countries but not every country took part in every event
  21. Mezzer A fine chap if ever there was one.

    The only way it would work was if every vehicles' performance was absolutely identical, so I've voted no. Arguably the same could be said of bob-sleds, with countries having the best aero facilities etc having the best sleds.

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