| The debate on whether bodybuilding | | | | competition for sporting amateurs, not |
| should be an Olympic sport has been | | | | professionals. |
| raging for years amongst the | | | | Another reason stated by the IOC for |
| bodybuilding community and those | | | | excluding bodybuilding from the Olympics |
| interested in the Olympics. Ardent fans | | | | was that the judging in competitive |
| argue that weightlifting has been an | | | | bodybuilding was far too subjective for |
| Olympic sport for years, so why not | | | | an Olympic judge to critique. Given the |
| bodybuilding? To diehard fans, | | | | controversy surrounding the subjective |
| bodybuilding and the Olympics seems to | | | | judging of sports such as ice skating, |
| be a perfect fit, and questions like | | | | diving, and gymnastics this argument |
| "Why is bodybuilding not already an | | | | hardly seems to hold water. In fact, |
| Olympic sport?" are routinely aired. | | | | bodybuilding would seem to be a perfect |
| Perhaps the more telling questions to | | | | fit! |
| ask are "Should bodybuilding be an | | | | How Bodybuilding Could Help The Olympics |
| Olympic sport?", and "Would making | | | | As competitive bodybuilding has never |
| bodybuilding an Olympic sport help the | | | | been a mainstream sport, including it as |
| Olympics?" | | | | an Olympic Sport would allow the sport |
| Bodybuilding And The Olympics: Why It Is | | | | to be better known and recognized. It |
| Not Already An Olympic Sport | | | | would also make the sport more |
| The current Olympic program consists of | | | | accessible, allowing people to learn |
| 35 sports, 53 disciplines and more than | | | | more about bodybuilding, and possibly |
| 400 events, ranging from archery through | | | | participate themselves. |
| to weightlifting and wrestling. The | | | | Bodybuilding would also help the |
| bodybuilding fan base, competitors, and | | | | Olympics by widening the scope of sports |
| sponsors are all ready and willing to | | | | on display. By showcasing bodybuilding, |
| take the step to Olympic level. The | | | | the Olympics would be encouraging people |
| stumbling block is the International | | | | of all ages to eat good food, work out, |
| Olympic Committee and the OPC, who state | | | | become fit, and look after their health. |
| simply that according to their criteria, | | | | These are important messages in a world |
| bodybuilding is not a sport and there | | | | where so many people are overweight. |
| has no place in the Olympics. | | | | A look back into history reveals that |
| This stand begs the question, "what | | | | the Olympics were first introduced by |
| determines a sport in the first place?". | | | | the Greeks, who idolized and revered |
| A simple definition by the Australian | | | | well toned, aesthetic bodies with |
| Sports Foundation says that sport is "a | | | | healthy strong physiques. |
| human activity capable of achieving a | | | | Bodybuilding And The Olympics: The Main |
| result requiring physical exertion and | | | | Argument Against |
| or physical skill, which, by its nature | | | | Besides the drug doping issue, perhaps |
| and organization, is competitive and is | | | | the most prominent argument against |
| generally accepted as being a sport." | | | | including bodybuilding in the Olympics |
| Arguably, bodybuilding fits within this | | | | is the subjectivity of judges and the |
| definition, and one would think this | | | | fact that there is often no clear |
| should be enough for the IOC. However, | | | | winner. Even though other Olympic sports |
| the primary problem the IOC has with | | | | like ice skating are also in this |
| allowing bodybuilding into the Olympics | | | | category, the majority of Olympic |
| concerns drug abuse. They claim that the | | | | sporting events feature clear winners, |
| widespread use of performance enhancing | | | | either by time, distance, height or |
| drugs by bodybuilders would prevent | | | | lifting weight. No one can argue that |
| bodybuilding from complying with Olympic | | | | judging mistakes have been made when a |
| drug policies. There are harsh and | | | | competitor clearly wins an event. |
| vigilant doping rules for Olympic | | | | Although the jury is still out on |
| competitors, which would certainly | | | | bodybuilding and Olympics, it seems for |
| exclude many professional bodybuilders. | | | | the time being at least, that the |
| However, the natural bodybuilding | | | | Olympic Committee has no intention of |
| fraternity does not use performance | | | | including bodybuilding as an Olympic |
| enhancing drugs. The Olympics could | | | | sport. Despite the fact that the |
| uphold their drug policies, allowing | | | | bodybuilding fraternity is ready and |
| only natural bodybuilders to compete at | | | | willing to take the step to Olympic |
| the Olympics. This also aligns with the | | | | level, it looks like they will be |
| tradition of the Olympics being a | | | | waiting for some time yet. |