XC at the Olympics requested by distance stars

[ponytayne]

As per the link on the front page - Haile G, K Bekele, and Paul Tergat have asked Jacque Rogge to consider putting XC back into the Olympics - either as a summer or winter sport. I would LOVE to see this.

Any others have feelings on this either way? Preferences for summer or winter? I personally would prefer to see winter so that the race would not interfere with track running (I know Nurmi won in '24 in addition to his track wins, but no one was near his level then - it's a bit more competitive now). However, the logistics of running the thing up in the ski resort towns that usualy host winter olympics could be a problem.

[az2004]

actually, it think this is a good event to add...

it's been dne before...

http://www.hickoksports.com/history/olxcountry.shtml

[guru]

Can't be winter because winter sports must be conducted on ice or snow.

I've been a proponent of XC in the summer Games ever since I've been on this board. My suggestion has always been do it early in the first week, apart from the track competition.

http://mb.trackandfieldnews.com/discuss ... php?t=7754

[ponytayne]

Can't be winter because winter sports must be conducted on ice or snow.

You must have missed Lynn Jennings' third world XC win in 1992, when the course was at Franklin Park in Boston...in early March. The entire course was under snow, and every step the runners took was on snow. See the finish pic below.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/siforw ... ngs_sm.jpg

[26mi235]

Can't be winter because winter sports must be conducted on ice or snow.

You must have missed Lynn Jennings' third world XC win in 1992, when the course was at Franklin Park in Boston...in early March. The entire course was under snow, and every step the runners took was on snow. See the finish pic below.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/siforw ... ngs_sm.jpg

Unlike the US Nationals race in Colorado where some of the steps were on ice and the rest were snow.... :wink:

[KevinM]

Can't be winter because winter sports must be conducted on ice or snow.

You must have missed Lynn Jennings' third world XC win in 1992, when the course was at Franklin Park in Boston...in early March. The entire course was under snow, and every step the runners took was on snow. See the finish pic below.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/siforw ... ngs_sm.jpg

Unlike the US Nationals race in Colorado where some of the steps were on ice and the rest were snow.... :wink:

If you're referring to 2007, almost all of the course was mud, rather than snow or ice (as is common in the high plains, Boulder had experienced a week of mild weather (highs on 6 days prior to USATF were 48, 59, 66, 46, 55, and 37, with 50 on race day).

[George P.]

I'd like to see this. But, with so much at stake, wouldn't there be a hundred questions/disputes about course location, layout, etc., etc.? But they manage all these matters with the marathon. So, hell, why not ... ?!

[hammer forever]

how about scheduling the race during the OPENING CEREMONIES, and as the athlete in the lead approaches the finish line on the track, hand them the TORCH, and as they pass the finish line they can light the cauldron? And if there is a "lead change" after the first one is handed the torch, they are required to pass it over to the new leader!

Would bring great TV and stadium attention to our sport....

[az2004]

basic problem is men and women, so the torch is out unless you do two races and wo torch like processes....

triathlon has been added recently, so england, a home to XC seems to be a perfect place to revive the event..

have a TEAM race and and individual race....