The US has officially announced that there will be no bid for the 2020 Olympics. The 2024 Olympic host city will not be announced until 2017. That leaves six years for the USOC and the IOC to put aside differences in revenue sharing and for the USOC to set up a bid from a place like Chicago, New York, or Dallas. With it having been 28 years since the Atlanta games when that date comes around - there's a very legitimate chance that the games are brought to the United States at that point in time.

Which would make it an ideal year for disc golf to be included as a part of the games, if only on a trial basis. Usually new sports need to be approved something like four years ahead of time (Did a quick Google search, I looked it up before but can't seem to find it offhand). That gives us almost a decade to get this right.

Am I the only person that believes that this is a completely realistic time scale for us? Should we get the ball rolling on this?


-Chris.

You need to have a sport with an active association in 50 countries before it can be considered. We're almost at 20 now. Much easier to shoot for Winter Olympics (seriously).

Chris

1) Might there be some advantages in having it unveiled in a country where it was not yet so popular as in the US?
2) Would you advocate that we institute a major event drug testing program beforehand, or just expect countries to send disc golfers clean enough to meet Olympic standards?

Chris

1) Might there be some advantages in having it unveiled in a country where it was not yet so popular as in the US?
2) Would you advocate that we institute a major event drug testing program beforehand, or just expect countries to send disc golfers clean enough to meet Olympic standards?
Peter -

1. This could be a great decision, yes. And with the relative lack of expenses in terms of the installation of courses (compared to other olympic venues) this is possible, even plausible. If this happens though we would definitely need to send someone to drive the efforts, and build it up there.

2. This is an interesting point that I had not been thinking about, although I'm sure it came up in these discussions before. The key with regards to our sport may just be trust. We would need to trust our athletes to have the composure and self control to not want the ignominy of having an Olympic Medal stripped from their necks for failed testing.


Chuck -

Easier, true. But would we really want to pigeonhole the event into the Winter Olympics, long term, should it take off? Is there precedent for events shifting between olympiads? This is part of why I'm bringing up an event that is still so far off, a decade-long drive could see something active in 50 nations. Additionally - is it required to see the number at 50 for a non-medal exhibition, which it almost certainly would be at first?

why do you want disc golf in the olympics? it seems like a lot of work.

The World Flying Disc Federation is already a member of IWGA (theworldgames.org) which is part of IOC. Pie in the sky plans notwithstanding, it's much more likely that DG could be included in a future World Games than an Olympic Games.

Also, there are no longer demonstration sports at the olympics.

Also, WFDF have their own anti-doping policies and a contact for doping related inquiries.

it's cool. i just look at that 2024 number and start wondering, "man, i'm going to be really old...or dead." i'd rather that level of motivation be toward something with more immediate gratification. i'm selfish.

why do you want disc golf in the olympics? it seems like a lot of work.
Growth of the sport, help bring it to a more conscious level on a national and world wide scale. All that fun stuff. :)

Growth of the sport, help bring it to a more conscious level on a national and world wide scale. All that fun stuff. :)

Yeah look what its done for synchronized swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, trampolining and curling.

Yeah look what its done for synchronized swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, trampolining and curling.
Plenty. If they weren't Olympic sports I wouldn't even know that they are sports. And guess what? A very very large segment of the population has NO IDEA what disc golf is, have no idea that it is a sport. So, yes, I do look at what its done for those sports, and I see that as something potentially useful for the sport. Especially considering the ease with which someone can get into disc golf vs. the sports you mentioned (most of which require expensive equipment or gym/pool rentals to practice).

For those who weren't paying attention at the time, disc golf has been in the World Games. Barry Schultz and Juliana Korver took the gold medals. Some higher ranked male players "had a conflict" with attending, and everyone who understood was grateful enough not to inquire further. :cool:

Like Chuck mentioned, based on the objective criteria, it would be much easier to get disc golf in the winter olympics, based on what countries currently play the game and have national championships. And without the winter olympics, who would know what biathalon was? I would have badly misjudged it to be a very small orientation limited division at a multi-event track and field competition! :D

That would be a heckuva Ice Bowl setting...can you imagine the stamp?

Plenty. If they weren't Olympic sports I wouldn't even know that they are sports. And guess what? A very very large segment of the population has NO IDEA what disc golf is, have no idea that it is a sport. So, yes, I do look at what its done for those sports, and I see that as something potentially useful for the sport. Especially considering the ease with which someone can get into disc golf vs. the sports you mentioned (most of which require expensive equipment or gym/pool rentals to practice).

They also don't require 20-30 acres of land to compete on. This requirement will always be a crutch for the sport because it will always be difficult/expensive to film and make compelling to non-players. Curling is made for TV. Anything in a pool, on a track, in an arena is made for TV. Jeez I love the sport but it's just not a good fit for the olympics.

not sure of the woulda, coulda, shoulda's but I'm glad this thread is going and the winter olympics in 2018 is an idea is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick

1 october in Haarlem, the www.frisbeesport.nl click on discgolf, has a book on all the discgolf players in the winter since 1986 ( and before:) )

it seems now the 2018 games are on in Korea...someone can tell me what this means: 'kam sa ham ni da' and what is the path(s), plan(s) and goal(s) to ...not only include discgolf,... but also Accuracy, ...Airbrushing, ...Goaltimate, ....MTA, ...'thon and a culminating event : a 'World War-Free (two words)" game with 500 players !