Pole dancing pushes bid as Olympic sport

cbsnews.com ^ | December 2, 2011 | Stephen Smith

[Scythian]

The criteria for being considered a new Olympic sport is certainly evolving.

In 2009, the IOC deemed golf, rugby and women's boxing as worthy additions - but popular sports such as baseball, softball and karate were nixed.

Now another "sport" is staking its claim as Olympic caliber - pole dancing.

The campaign to get pole dancing into the Games has been in the works for a couple of years. But now, according to the Washington Post, the Pole Fitness Association and other like-minded groups are circulating petitions to get the dance form in the 2012 London Games.

Pole dancing may conjure up images of strip clubs but these days it's more about health clubs. The sensual dance is now commonly called "pole fitness" or "vertical dance" and according to the AFP, there are more than 500 pole dancing fitness studios across the U.S. Indeed, serious pole dancers arguably have athletic chops similar to some Olympic gymnasts.

[Kenton]

Oh, I know some Poles who will get pretty excited about this!

[righttackle44]

With tremendous support from the acey-deucey and chug-a-lug caucuses, of course.

[RexBeach]

Gee. What’s next? Ironing? That’s a hot one!

[Brookhaven]

Video games will be next.

You’ll have a gold medal in the physical version, and a gold medal in the video version.

[RJS1950]

Heh,

This question was asked in a Married With Children episode; had to do with banner dancing being an olympic sport and pole dancing is not.

[Spruce]

The winner is the one with the highest total value stuffed in her g-string, not necessarily the most bills. A very important distinction in the Olympics.

[Responsibility2nd]

Yet another reason to NOT watch the olympics...

 

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

OMG. O.o

[blueunicorn6]

Pole dancing?.....oh, that’s why Barney Frank is retiring.

[headsonpikes]

Olympic Muff-Diving Teams go back half a century, at least!

[Responsibility2nd]

What about Hula Dancing? That should be an Olympic sport too.

 

[Thunder90]

[Constitution Day]

I'd rather watch Zoraya Judd...ohhh yeah.

[Brookhaven]

They should really get back to the basics.

The “original” Olympic sports were all individual events that had some military application: running, jumping, swiming, throwing (javlin, discus, hammer), wrestling, boxing, and archery.

There is no military application for dancing (or playing basketball for that matter).

If they stayed with that criteria it would still be intersting, but the Olympics have become so bloated with events that it’s not even worth watching anymore.

[Responsibility2nd]

Oh.... I’ve got more. You better log off now....

[Responsibility2nd]

Olympic Pole Dancing.

 

Hillary Approves!

 

[pieceofthepuzzle]

” the Olympics have become so bloated with events that it’s not even worth watching anymore.”

I very much agree. I used to love watching the Olympics as a kid. The only things I'll watch anymore are the track and field events, and the swimming races. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before they'll include bocce ball.

[Iron Munro]

Once the gays push for it approval will be almost instantaneous.

[camle]

i wanna be a judge...just sayin’