With the 2010 winter Olympics coming to a close, I'm reminded of a question I posed two years ago during the 2008 Olympics: does paintball deserve a spot in the Olympics? My original thoughts on the matter haven't changed, but I'm interested in what any of you readers might think about paintball becoming an Olympic sport. Share your thoughts in the comments.
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yeah, that would be intence competition between countries like USA/China/Russia…
Paintball should be in the Olympics, It’s a modern sport , fast and attractive and highly competitive.
Paintball utilizes strategy, teamwork and physical conditioning. All of which would make it a prime candidate to become an Olympic sport. Paintball is being played worldwide and is recognized as a tournament sport with venues supported by organizations such NPPL, PSP, Millenium and countell others.
Paintball is very competitive and safe. There are established rules and regulations making this an already organized sport. Players range from 10-30 with skills ranging from many levels. This sport is currently being played and gaining more popularity on college campuses nationwide.
Paintball should definitely be looked deeper into becoming a sport for the Olympics or even X Games.
There are very strong odds against it.
First, it’s technical sport – like motorcycle racing or scuba diving and Olympics are not for sports with “mechanical driving force”. If we are in – that means Formula-1 or Nascar can be in.
Second, it must be “widely practised in non less than 75 countries and 4 continents”. Now 90% of paintball is USA – which make certain disbalance IOC will not like. It’s more or less like baseball – American national game with some followers. There’s nothing bad about it but IOC prefer more ‘international’ kind of sports.
Third, any additional sport means additional expenses (facilities, accommodation, logistics) and Olympics getting more and more commercial. So, without clear commercial perspective like ability to make good TV show and attract sponsors and advertisers it will be hard to insert new sport into the Games. And you all know that paintball make poor TV show – due to simple reason that spectator should not put attention to one single ball like in soccer/football/hockey/etc but to several events on the field simultaneously.
And last but not least – there are no international governing body for paintball. There are no National Federations even, so IOC simply have nobody to deal with.
BTW, does anyone remember regular competitions between REALLY national teams in paintball? Like Championship of Europe or Asia or America?
If curling (Gagging)can be in the Winter Olympics. Then YES paintball should also be part of the Summer Olimpics!!! It is played all over the world. Paintball needs lobbiest to push it every year and not let up! If you push and nag enough they’ll give in!!
It will not happen anytime soon. All the uneducated masses will see is a group of people with”GUNS” running around “SHOOTING” at each other.Thats why, as a paintballer, it is our job to educate these people.And kick the asses of these stupid people that do drive by’s and property damage using PB guns.
Not to mention the cheating that tends to go on in tournament paintball would have to be heavily dealt with. Having players who wipe, play-on, over-shoot, etc would not look good for whatever country they were representing.
I think that paintball is still too much in it’s infancy to be in the Olympics. Maybe the X-Games would be more realistic.
There is not enough regulation in order to bring the sport to the olympic level. All of the olypmic sports have “removed” the elements for anyone to cheat or be deceptive.
Paintball will always have these characteristics.
i have to disagree with a few of zamps’ points.
A. the majority of paintball is not played in the U.S.A., Although the U.S. has some of the dominant teams, and runs some major tournaments, paintball is actually more popula rin europe, in countries such as Germany, Franch, and England, just to name the leading three
B. Where do you get paintball making poor television? Every time I have seen college cups, or psp cups on tv the camera man, and announcers do an excellent job on keeping me informed, so you must just have your opinions.
C. you mention no national or international federations. There are two widelyu accepted U.S. national federations, The NXPL, and the PSP cup. I also think it’s safe to say that the MIlenium cup which is ussually hosted in France or Germany can be described as “International” as teams from as far as Australia participate.
The reason however this sport has yet to make the olympics is the lack of knowledge the general public has of it. SO while I root for it to get in there, I also am aware of its setbacks.
I think that it should at least be considered. I mean they have archery, and during winter the biathlon. This couldn’t be too much different. The specific definition of sport is ”
an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature.” I think that paintball has all of those requirements. I mean heck they even consider competitive cheer leading a sport now. Paintball is the number 3 leading extreme sport behind skateboarding and inline skating. Hell, they even have the X-Games. This will verify everything.
http://www.airsplat.com/scenariopaintball.htm