Hi all, let me start off by saying that I have relatively little interest in the Olympics as a whole, I like watching fencing and archery when I remember and can find it, the rest I have little use for. It did occur to me the other day, that jousting should be an Olympic sport, like some of you I'm sure, I watched the couple of jousting shows on cable this past year and was mesmerized. I can do without the drama and bs that goes on between matches, but the sheer talent and concentration it takes to ride, to maneuver a lance, wear the armor and have the state of mind to hit an opponent must be incredible. To anyone's knowledge, has jousting ever been considered for the Olympics, and if not how do we get approved?
Not to take away from any gold medalists out there, I'm sure you've trained hard, but Ping-Pong and what looks to be race ambling (I really am unsure what to call that) are hardly sport. Just trying to make a case for these guys who dedicate their lives and limbs to the joust should have a chance in the world arena. Anyone agree?


Richard

I would really enjoy seeing Olympic jousting! I have doubts that it will ever happen though. In a "moderately safe" context, and with some semblance of historical lineage, opponents would need some form of protective armor. I would argue that armored fully impact jousting to unseat the opponent as a popularly viewed sport for prizes was fairly concentrated at around 1150 AD to 1275 AD, with increasingly infrequent or eccentric celebrations of it continuing into the 1700's. I think it would be difficult to sell as an international sport having either: ancient Olympic theme, or contemporary popularity as a sport today. (This forum would be an obvious exception.)

I did appreciate the Dressage events that were broadcast a least a couple of times that I got to see this past Olympics. Now if we could just get some increased coverage of the Olympic sport fencing.

I agree Sander. fencing seems a little too rigid in its ruling, nothing like historic swordplay at all, but in a severely regulated international sports arena, it's the best they can do for now I suppose. As far as longsword fencing, I'd love to watch that. As a collector and martial artist myself, the long sword is my preferred weapon.

Modern fencing is a sport and makes no pretence at being anything else. Criticizing it for that is just as myopic as claiming ping pong isn't a sport. (running after, catching and throwing a ball is a sport but hitting a small one with a paddle isn't ? Come on.) I was a serious sabre fencer for fifteen years long ago and was considered an Olympic hopeful. The only criticism I can make of the sport is the complete and utter lack of form I see in modern electric fencing.

The problem with including jousting would be the modernization of the equipment and the resulting gamesmanship that would follow, just like most modern sports. Modern Olympic jousting would bear no more resemblance to period jousting than Olympic archery does to its traditional fore runner.

Like I had said before, I don't mean to detract from those who spend many long years developing their skill, but I do wonder what the ancient Greeks would think of our modern Olympic sports. I should think that jousting would seem less out of place than the aforementioned ping-pong, or race walking (I had to look that one up).

Most probably the ancient Greeks would disagree with quite a few things, letting women compete and watch for starters, not honouring the gods, non-Greek speaking athletes, etc. You wish to fix those "problems" too?

What's your definition of an "appropriate" sport? What do you find in fencing or archery that ping-pong lacks?

Bring back Olympic pistol duelling:

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There are jousting sports which don't involve, armor, riding at rings, tent pegging, etc.

jousting is not widely practiced. rugby will be in the olympics next games. I believe it needs to be practiced in over 75 countries to be considered. I think also, that games like cricket don't need to be in the olympics as there are already major international competitions.

Soccer is the number one team sport in the world. Not a big fan myself, but I believe that in terms of sheer numbers, more people play, and watch, soccer than any other sport in the world. Excluding soccer would mean that all team sports would have to fall by the wayside. The problem with cricket is that it is extremely limited in terms of participation, both in total numbers and in the number of countries where criket has any relevance. A bit like American, or Canadian, football, which I personally both enjoy. On the subject of fencing, there was a strong opposition to its' continued presence in the Olympic Games back in the eighties, but we seem to have overcome that hurdle for the time being.

Jousting is an official sport of maryland according to this, and I doubt it is done while armored.

http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/h...sport.html