Does Paintball Deserve a Place in the Olympics?
The Olympics were originally designed to mimic the games of ancient Greece with events that simulated the traits necessary to excel as a warrior. In modern times, being able to wrestle isn't nearly as important as being able to shoot. Maybe paintball, then, is a better modern-day way to give reverence to the original theme of the games than anything else. Then again, maybe not.
With the advent of modern technology, events that never were part of the original Olympics have been added including air rifle events. If the air rifle is Olympic worthy, surely the paintball gun couldn't be discounted simply because of its modern technology. In my opinion, the real reason paintball will never make it into the Olympics and doesn't deserve a place in the Olympics is because it is a fringe sport with no set rules and a negative image.
While basic rules of paintball remain the same, a game in an NPPL tournament or a PSP event are very different. If you compare those rules with backyard capture the flag or SPPL, the differences are even more apparent. The IOC could simply decide to adopt one of the game formats at the expense of all others, but that still wouldn't increase the sport's popularity or change its image.
I've read figures that claim 10 million people play paintball in the United States. While this is slightly misleading since the numbers are skewed to include people who have played paintball once in the past year, that is still a large number of people. If 10 million people have also played the sport in the rest of the world, there seems like an adequate fan base to justify the inclusion of the sport. The problem, though, is that 20 million people (being very generous with my estimates) who play paintball is still only 1/315th of the world's population. Of these people who do play, very few live in big cities and that's a problem.
If you search for "paintball" in New York City, you only get five hits (and two are in New Jersey) while "gymnastics" returns 82 and "fishing" returns over 900. More than half of the world's population lives in big cities and most simply don't have access to the sport. To make matters worse, many of the members of the International Olympic Committee live in these big cities. To them, paintball is a quaint event similar to NASCAR and Roller Derby - millions may enjoy it but it's not an international sport. Even Baseball and Softball have been dropped from the Olympics since they primarily appeal to Americans. If these sports that appeal to millions and millions of very devoted fans don't appeal to the international community, why would paintball?
One final problem that paintball has is that its image to many non-players is quite negative. I've talked to countless people about paintball and many non-players can't believe that I would play such a violent sport. With a little bit of explanation about the safety of the sport, they usually have a better idea of it, but there's no way that this image is going to change any time soon.
Is it impossible for paintball to make it to the Olympics? Of course not. One group has even started a petition requesting that it be accepted. If they succeed, I will be very happy for the exposure the sport receives, though my guess is that paintball will never become an Olympic sport. While it's a wonderful sport that can be enjoyed by almost anyone, I think it is better suited to individual tournaments and backyard play than to a rigid, formalized structure that the Olympics would provide. Paintball would probably be my best chance at ever becoming an Olympic athlete, but if I never get that chance, I'll be just fine.
Comments
so… i’m a new kid in paitball… i’m getting my first gun in two days (my birthday) and i’m just wondering what you mean when you say paintball has a negative image. could you explain?
so i was reading your articles on paintball and you taught me a ton of stuff! thanks for taking the time to write all that… i mean after i get my gun i was all set to upgrade it with a high end 20 inch barrel…. but now i’ll see how accurate my gun shoots and if necessary i will buy a medium grade 12 or 14 inch barrel.
so what do you think of the Spyder MR1? and thanks again!
The MR1 is a decent starter gun, but to my knowledge doesn’t have a very tournament friendly trigger. I would go with either the new pilot or electra, or if you’ve got a just a bit more cash to spend, the smart parts ion is a good bet. These guns are much more fun to play with and are more easliy upgraded (if you decide you like the sport). They’re also not too pricey compared to some of the guns out there.
Hope this helps!
Paintball in the Olympics? Probally not.Why? Because it DOES have a negative image. I love it myself, but lets face it, you have a very real looking “gun”, and you are pointing it and actually shooting other people.Hmmmmmm!Anyhow…Keep the paint flying….Game on!!!!!
YES, paintball should be in the Olympics. Iv been playing paintball for over four years. I seen different seasons of paintballin night ,sunny,and raining games. it is a hard, aggressive,competitive and a strategic game. just like the Olympics where you must practice to better your self and your team mates. But then again paintballing is not for everyone so if you like it you like it, if you don’t well don’t play. The Olympics have other sports where you shoot something to hit something whether is a bow an arrow or a shot gun then why not paintballing. Paintballing Is a sport no matter how you look at it.
Paintball in the Olympics can and will happen sooner or latter. Just like any sport that has been added, Air rifle is not a good example of it. Using a sport that was added to the sport more that a decade ago in Olympic years doesnt compare to what has been added to the Olympics recently. Snowboarding, mountain bike course, ext. By adding a sport that has a negitive setting is not the right way to put it. We do have other events that are as aggressive as paintball “Fincing”. As long as the sport has some what a team work and ability for showing growth of knowledge on the sport, it should be concidered. The grouth of the sport is growing every year. Can you say that you have gone swimming, tried to do a backflip, shot a rifle, dove into a pool. If you said yes to any of them you have tried something that is in the Olympics. You may not do it everyday or take it serious of diving in the pool other than you have tried it before. Olympic players have take it serious about diving into a pool or swimming some laps and shooting a rafle, and now they are in the Olympics winning the Gold for there country. They have that opitunity for it. Now can anyone say yes to tyring paintball or found any intress in paintball. Yes most young adults will, and for the NPPL, PSP, SPPL, theya are different ways to play paintball but there are different way to swim or shoot a rifle. It is not a problem if you live in the middle of the woods or live in the middle of no were if someone love the sport of paintball, Lives, sleep and cant stop playing paintball they will find out a way to play paintball just the same way as a swimmer that lives in the middle of the desert will find a gym to swim at. Paintball is the fastest growing sport in 2009 and has been on the top 5 sports for being the safest sport, safer than golf! I have been to the top playing paintball and I will be very happy to see it be a new sport added. I hope it is added it will bring a different group, nature, crew or what ever you want to call it “Croud” to the Olympics
I don’t think paintball will ever be an Olympic sport until we can find ways to prevent cheating.
With the amount of technology that goes into markers and the referee’s inability to govern cheater boards, the IOC would have to place strict restrictions on markers.
I think most of us strive to play fair, but it only takes a few people to ruin it for all.
Until we can make sure the field of play is level for all, and our individual skills, not our markers, are put to the test, the sport of paintball will never be accepted in Olympic competition.
I agree about the cheating aspect of it.
It is unfortunate, but with the amount of wiping (which displays a complete lack of integrity), cheater boards, etc, there isn’t much sport left in tourney ball.
It is more about who can dump more paint onto a bunker in a given period of time, and what you can get away with when no one is looking.
I think the aspects of cheating and image will have a far greater impact on whether Paintball is accepted than the number of players. Look up javelin and see how many show up, or discus. Though I can’t back it up with numbers, I would assume that more people play paintball than do synchronized swimming.
Cheating can happen in any sport, so while I do think it would have to be considered, I think the results would be similar to any other sport… very strict and precise rules to ensure an even playing field from an equipment point of view.
Image though… that’s key to the Olympic games. Through more education about paintball I think that’s theres a good chance that it will be in one day. After all… BMX was there this year.
even though most people argue that it is too “violent” to put in the Olympics ( which is a good reason) there is no way they are keep it out. it’s exciting, fast paced, and just plain fun. I am confident that it will be an Olympic sport very soon.
you need to actually play the sport not just play to games and say its very violent you have no idea we love each other out on the field we dont have a strong hatered towards any one so yeah you chill it will make it into the olympics BEAT DOWN…… CITY!!!!
yah it should its just like other sports its like soccer and football you need team work and it should be an olympic sport
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“doesn’t deserve a place in the Olympics is because it is a fringe sport with no set rules and a negative image. ”
Had hope for it till i got to that. Then it all went to F*ck you buddy. Go play the sport, you obviously never have played it, and if you have, you picked up a POS walmart marker and played in a backyard outlaw game.
ummmmm im pretty sure paintball has set rules relying on your “division” and if ping pong is a sport in the olympics and “target shooting” and also trap and skeet. paintball deffinately deserves a spot
umm id like to know how paintball guns look “real” they have a huge loader on the top, a tank in the back however airsoft DOES have a negative image and those guns DO look “real”
PLESE airsoft sucks my left nut