Competition Name: Charting the Future of Olympic Sports
Background: The Olympic Games is the world’s preeminent sporting competition. Held every four years, it brings together athletes worldwide to compete in various sports. Rooted in ancient Greek traditions, the modern Olympic Games were revived in 1896 with the aim of promoting friendship, unity, and fair competition among nations. Governed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Games have evolved over the years as new sports and events have been added and removed to inspire billions of spectators worldwide.
In order for a new sport to be added to the Olympic Games, a sports federation or organization that governs the sport must make a formal proposal to the IOC. There are seven key criteria that the committee considers in the decision-making process:
- Universality: The sport should be practiced by men and women in a wide range of countries across different continents. The typical baseline has been participation in 75 countries across 4 continents for men and in 40 countries across 3 continents for women.
- Popularity: The sport should have a significant global fan base and sufficient media coverage to generate interest among spectators. Some popularity indicators include social media followings, number of official website visits, television coverage, media accreditations, and ticket sales at major sporting events.
- History and Tradition: The sport's historical and cultural significance may be considered. Some sports with deep roots and historical importance are given preference.
- Governance: The international federation or governing body for the sport should have a well-established and transparent structure. It should also comply with Olympic Charter requirements [link to Olympic Charter].
- Ethics: The sport should adhere to the Olympic values of fair play, non-discrimination, and sportsmanship. The sport should have a Code of Ethics.
- Athletes: The sport should have international competitions (e.g., World Championships) in place to identify the best athletes to participate in the Olympic Games.
- Health: The sport should serve the harmonious physical and moral development of the abilities of those taking part in it. This includes being in compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code (more information can be found at www.wada-ama.org).