Honourable Mentions
First and foremost, there is a selection of sports that, whilst interesting and engaging to watch, will most likely never find themselves on the Olympic programme. Chief amongst these are the likes of darts and pool, widely considered to be pub games requiring no athletic prowess whatsoever. True the likes of archery or shooting may be in the same vein, but they arent associated with a culture of drinking, which the IOC is most likely keen to avoid. Likewise, ten pin bowling, despite having been a demonstration sport at the 1988 games in Seoul, is more widely considered a recreational activity than a professional sport. There are a few other games that Id like to see, but realistically, never will, such as competitive paintball a tactical and high adrenaline game that does, surprisingly, have professional divisions. Imagining some the potential match-ups (North Korea vs. South Korea or the USA vs. Iran, anyone?) is an interesting activity, but a futile one.
11. Futsal
One of the most common complaints about mens Olympic football is that, unlike most of the sports featured in the games, the gold medal is only a minor achievement in comparison to events such as the World Cup. As a result, little attention is paid to the tournament, in which teams are limited to just three players over the age of twenty three. Many who are selected for their countries are also forced to turn down the opportunity by their clubs, who fear for the possibility of their players picking up an injury or becoming fatigued as the beginning of the domestic season beckons. Im not advocating the removal of Olympic football it gives young players a chance to play on the world stage and allows the womens game to gain worldwide exposure, but its profile would be raised by supplementing it with the rapidly growing indoor game of futsal, a game similar to five-a-side (which itself would make an interesting addition to the games), albeit with slightly different rules and a heavier ball. Fast-paced and full of ball tricks and skills, the sport is engaging for crowds, who would easily pack indoor arenas used by sports such as handball to watch impressive displays by the likes of Brazil and Spain, who presently dominate the game. Beach football may be competing with other sports for a place in the 2020 Olympics, but futsal would be the more entertaining option.