New Event - Question

[Guest]

Has the IAAF of the IOC ever considered adding a Ultra-marathon as an event at the Olympics or World Championships. There is a World Championships for the 100k most years (organized by the IAU) but it is held seperately from the IAAF WC or the Olympics.

100k (62 miles) seems to me to be the most logical Ultra event to add.

GH, have you heard any consideration for this? Maybe at least as a demonstration event, initialy?

[Guest]

Re: New Event - Question

You gotta' be kidding!

[bubba]

Re: New Event - Question

We've already got a 50k ultra-running event ;-)

[Guest]

Re: New Event - Question

Given the times they do in the 50k Walk one would think they are running (7 mins a mile) but it is offically a Walk with different rules. Actually the 50k is a distance very similar to the marathon (26.2 vs. 31.1 miles), but what I am proposing would be significantly different a 100k race (62.2 miles) would be more true endurance test with less speed elements. The course could also be done on trails or mixture of surfaces.

In the early years (early 1900's) of the Olympics they had a cross country event also (over 10k I think). This could be cross country as well or a trail race which would only heighten the endurance aspect of the competition.

[gh]

Re: New Event - Question

If anything, the IOC is looking for events (or whole sports) to CUT from the Olympic program, not add. (other than achieving parity for women)

Will never happen. Indeed, the next significant thing that is likely to happen to the sport re the Olympics is that we'll end up going down the same path swimming did, and find ourselves cut from 3 per nation to 2.

[Guest]

Re: New Event - Question

GH, thanks for the insight. I guess I'll have to focus on the IAU's World Championships as my goal.

Looks like the dream of Oly Gold is not in my future.

Or maybe we could add the 100k and drop a few other events (synchorized swimming and rhythmic gymnatics come to mind). Or even drop the 20k walk (sorry friends).

Its hard to think that the International Olympic Committee thinks that Half Pipe Snow Boarding or Mogul Snowboard Jumping or Rhythmic Breathing is more of an athletic competition that running 100k.

[Guest]

Re: New Event - Question

>Its hard to think that the International Olympic Committee thinks that Half Pipe Snow Boarding or Mogul Snowboard Jumping or Rhythmic Breathing is more of an athletic competition that running 100k.<

What's an athletic competition has nothing to do with it. The question is whether it's marketable. How many people will watch it on tv? What will sponsors find attractive? As silly as that snowboard shit is, it's perceived to be good family viewing. Ultras may be athletic, but they're not much fun to watch.

[Guest]

Re: New Event - Question

"Given the times they do in the 50k Walk one would think they are running (7 mins a mile) but it is offically a Walk with different rules. Actually the 50k is a distance very similar to the marathon (26.2 vs. 31.1 miles), but what I am proposing would be significantly different a 100k race (62.2 miles) would be more true endurance test with less speed elements. The course could also be done on trails or mixture of surfaces.

In the early years (early 1900's) of the Olympics they had a cross country event also (over 10k I think). This could be cross country as well or a trail race which would only heighten the endurance aspect of the competition."

The last Olympic cross country race was at the Paris Olympics in 1924.

The race was run on one of the hotest days in Parisian history and on a ridiculously challenging course; less than half the runners finished the race.

That debacle was the queue to eliminate cross-country from the Olympics.

[Guest]

Re: New Event - Question

And get a dictionary while you're at it. One debacle does not make a queue.

[michael lewis]

Re: New Event - Question

Fancy a game of pool? What was your first cue?