Do you think curling should be removed as an Olympic sport?
445275
Curling is huge in Canada.  Have you ever done it? \n\nDo you know how much a rock (curling stone) weighs? \n\nIt is a lot of work, to get that rock to go to the other end of the ice...and sweeping on the ice assists it. \n\nThere are 4 people..the Skip, Vice, Second & Lead, and they all have crucial roles to play. \n\nYou need to have the right strength, and know the ice surface, and have the right turn to make the rock go the direction you like.  You need to be quick to make sure you keep up with the rock, and as you approach the house (the circle), you need to be very careful you don't burn (touch) any of the rocks.  \n\nIt is a sport. \nTrust me, it is a lot harder than it looks.  Unless you have played...you shouldn't judge.  If they have made it look easy, it is because they are good....and deserve to be there.
1055458
Agreed.   \n\n\n   Without a venue to vent frustration in a high paced physical game like hockey, there would be more incidents of stick swinging and potentially more violent injuries.  \n\n  Fighting is not really 'allowed' but tolerated and penaltized.
673044
I have taught hundreds of people how to curl and the most common response after playing is "that was lot more difficult than it looks".  Most leave with a greater appreciation and respect for the sport, some can't get enough and become life long members.\n\nThose who don't get, means there are less people to challenge you in reaching ones Olympic Dreams.  \n\n"if it is easy, why do it"
336646
Cricket can take days to finish, but as far as pace goes - curling.  I fell in love with the sport after the Olympics, but when you have a sport that allows you 1 hour of "discussion time", how much action can you have?!
98735
For some people I can see how it would spoil the results.  But if you're a true fan of the Olympics then it doesn't matter.  It's unfortunate that they can't be held on our continent every time but there are other people in the world besides Americans. (That may shock some of you to learn!)  But we can all look forward to the next winter olympics that will be held in Canada.
1098085
It's really sad that softball is not going to be in the 2012 Olympics. The US Olympic committee and the ISF tried really hard to get softball reinstated for the 2012 Olympics, too bad they didn't do a good job informing the IOC about softball and really making their case before the vote to axed softball and baseball from the Olympics especially when they knew the President of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, wanted softball out.  What's really sad was that the vote to take out softball was 52-52 and Jim Easton abstained from voting because of his company; why be part of the IOC when you're not going to vote and not going to be there when it matters the most?  For now the only hope for playing softball in the Olympics is in 2008, but for those still in high school and below the dream to play Olympic softball is suspended, but hopefully the sport will get reinstated in 2016 and dreams can live on.
1070159
Heck Yes! You should start a rebelion or a revolution or something! Like when kids hate their parents, they go goth. And thats true, snowboarding is right?  That would probably make more people watch the olympics!
331808
absolutely, it meets all the criteria for an Olympic sport, the reason it isn't in the Olympics is that ballroom dancing doesn't have the nationwide appeal that soccer or baseball etc... does.
595648
Yes softball is being dropped in the 2012 Olympics but I think that it will be reinstated into the 2016 Olympics once they get a different president of the IOC. All there reasons can be argued.\n \nThe IOC said they were going to get rid of these two sports to make the games smaller and less costly.  Then why did they try to fill up these two open spaces with golf, rugby, squash, karate, or roller sports. None of these sports received enough votes to be added to the Olympic Games. This tells me that the IOC was not actually trying to make the games smaller.\n\nAnother reason that IOC dropped softball was because of the United States domination in the sport. Yes, it is true that the United States have won the past 3 gold medals, but the only way the other international teams are going to get better is to play the best in the world. In the 2005 World Cup of Softball, Japan won the tournament. They beat the United States in the championship game, 3-1. Canada also beat the United States in pool play in a close game. According to these results, the United States is less dominating now. \n\nSoftball does not have enough of a worldwide appeal. That is why there are currently 127 countries playing softball. Not all of them are developed into excellent softball teams, but they are playing the game. The only way they are going to get better is to play. The problem is that softball is not a popular sport in Europe. Europeans mainly dominate the IOC. Softball is more popular in the Americas and Asia. They don’t have as big of an influence on the IOC. 60% of the IOC executive board is European. Less than 15% is from the Americas and 20% is from Asia. \n\nSoftball is closely related to baseball which I believe hurt them in the IOC’s decision. The IOC just assumed that softball had problems with steroids like baseball does. Softball is one of the few sports left that have never had a positive drug testing in the Olympics or World Championships. \n\nBaseball players have dreams of playing in the Major League. Softball players dream about playing for the Olympic team. Many young women and girls dream about playing for their country’s team in the Olympics. The IOC shattered millions of these dreams. It is not just American girls that are upset either. Many young women from all over the world are upset about the decision. I am one of them. I too want to play in the Olympics. I have played softball since I was 6. I started playing varsity softball as a freshmen.
235364
That is quite a stretch there but the way it works now is that an Olympic athlete can be replaced by another top finisher from the same nation. But if there were no available candidates then the specific sport would be listed as having no winners.
419863
I believe it has only been banned in the Olympics :)
166166
ice skating and gymnastics, they're just so pretty...  i would also like to see bowling added (Thats my sport) btw to all yas who say thats not a real sport, i would like to see you bowl a 300, if it were that easy we'd all be, and trust me its not, im still waiting for my ring...   Also bowling is the 2nd most participated sport in the world, or at least the US, not sure... and i dont think it would compare to lets say the gymnastics ratings, but i think it can get people interested...  I think what they should do even if theres not enough interest in the sport to do it every year, they could add a few rotating sports, until it catches on... just do it every other olympics or something, but at least it gets the sport noticed and in the door...  ok im rambling\n\nEm
387245
I think is should be considered a sport.  reason: it is more of a challenge than people think.  Trying to avoid getting hit ( and believe me i have been hit too close to a place too many times) and trying to hit another person is very hard.  also it provides an adrenaline rush.  sure it is expensive but not where most people think it is.  most people think it is the gun when it is actually the paint.  in fact i think it should be added to the Olympics because there are teams all over the world that play the sport.  also a little history to show how fast it has grown.  it started in New Hampshire with just twelve people in 1980  a few years later there were companies investing in the sport now theres millions of players nd hundreds of companies.  its another great american sport.  thats why i consider it a sport
109310
This is fairly comprehensive, and will lead to other sites:\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curling
142289
Luge and Bobsledding.\nThey do not have men's pairs dancing, and curling is 3 men.
113694
No then they would be considered professionals and that is not allowed in the olympics.
97003
It's the sport called curling.