http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080801.wlgolf01/BNStory/lifeMain/home

So there was local poll as to whether Golf should be accepted into the 2016 Olympics games, and more fundamentally, whether golf was a sport.

COULD dragon boat be included into the Olympics? Note this is not SHOULD.

equestrian isnt a sport why is that in the olympics...

Golf is certainly a sport. It requires a fine degree of physical skill to be successful.
It was also contested in the 1904 Olympics over a century ago.
But it boggles my mind that dragon boating is not an Olympic event. It is one of the most popular activities in the world, it is governed by a world body (IDBF) and holds its own world championships.
What more do you need in order to be included in the Olympics?

A brand new Olympic village that can accomodate 30 teams?

You'll also need to at least triple the beer tent size. BTW, is beer considered a performance enhancing drug?

Isn't there also a World Championship Egg Toss? That should be an Olympic event. And come to think of it so should BIRD CALLING.

Previous poster you are a dumbass.

Dragon Boat certainly should be considered to be a demonstration sport for the 2016 Games and then hopefully become a full fledged olympic sport. The IOC demands that sports must have 72 nations taking part in their sport to become a demonstration sport. Dragon Boat currently has 63.

As a sport if we could add 9 nations before 2016, we may be able to get in.

That's just one of many challenges. All the other Olympic sport federations have to vote to let you in. And who do you think should step aside for us?? The SOG are full now. Any new sport means one has to be dropped. So, good luck!

There are no more demonstration sports as in the past(pre 1996).It is all or nothing in the Olympics nowadays.

When considering the large number of competitors that dragonboat could bring, there are the options of continental qualifiers as well as using the 10 person boat to keep the numbers manageable.

I doubt dragon boating would make it to the olympics. Just think... if each of the necessary 70+ nations submit a team, each team has 22 members, not even couting alternates. And that's just for one team. Most nations focus strictly on Mens crew and Women crews, so two per nation.
Is there any location that can house that many athletes? On top of the athletes from other sports?
It would be chaos.

If the previous poster had read the post above his(hers?)it would be clear that not all nations would end up in the Olympics. There might be as few as only 10 nations, or whatever no. the IOC deems manageable, after continental or regional qualifying.

As much as I'd like to think it has a chance (and I definitely think it merits being considered) I don't think it'll ever happen. Even if only 10 nations actually compete, that means minimum 300 extra bodies. Also, anywhere from 22 to 26 medals to be awarded per team (times three for gold, silver & bronze). It is much easier to choose other sports where the overall impact on the games is much less noticeable. I'm not saying I agree with this, but other people that aren't involved in this sport won't see the benefits we do. We all speak with passion because we know exactly how much technique and effort is required to paddle in a dragon boat but people that aren't involved in the sport won't be as sympathetic. Also, all these numbers get multiplied times three again if we intend to have a women, mixed and open division. If not, what do we do... just mixed? The numbers aren't in our favour!

The last post pretty much sums it up. I fully agree.

WOw!!! watching the Olympics opening ceremony and just saw hundreds of Chinese emulating dragon boat paddling (albeit about 50 man boats)!!! AWESOME!!!

What a joke. The Olympics are reserved for sports like Team Handball and Trampoline.

What an utter joke.

2008 Olympics: Complete Medal Standings
As of 08/11, 1pm Beijing Time


Keep patting yourselves on the back and making lame excuses. Here is the medal count to date. How many excuses can you make why Canada is not even on the list. If dragonboat did make it to the Olympics, none of the heros on this thread would have to worry about making plans. Stay with your festivals, or go to the other side of the earth to race each other and then tell each other how great you are. You can watch real athletes on TV - it's as close as you will get.

COUNTRY MEDALISTS GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTAL
United States see names 3 4 4 11
China see names 6 3 0 9
South Korea see names 3 2 0 5
Australia see names 2 0 3 5
France see names 0 3 2 5
Japan see names 2 0 2 4
Italy see names 1 2 1 4
Russia see names 0 3 1 4
Great Britain see names 2 0 1 3
North Korea see names 0 1 2 3
Czech Republic see names 2 0 0 2
Netherlands see names 1 0 1 2
Spain see names 1 0 1 2
Cuba see names 0 1 1 2
India see names 1 0 0 1
Romania see names 1 0 0 1
Thailand see names 1 0 0 1
Austria see names 0 1 0 1
Hungary see names 0 1 0 1
Norway see names 0 1 0 1
Sweden see names 0 1 0 1
Turkey see names 0 1 0 1
Vietnam see names 0 1 0 1
Zimbabwe see names 0 1 0 1
Algeria see names 0 0 1 1
Argentina see names 0 0 1 1
Belarus see names 0 0 1 1
Chinese Taipei see names 0 0 1 1
Croatia see names 0 0 1 1
Finland see names 0 0 1 1
Georgia see names 0 0 1 1
Germany see names 0 0 1 1
Indonesia see names 0 0 1 1
Switzerland see names 0 0 1 1
Uzbekistan see names 0 0 1 1

That was a bit harsh...and irrelevant.

2:04, it amazes me how brave anonymous posters like you are in a forum like this.