2008 Games

[G95champ]

Since the 2008 Olympics will be in China does anyone know if there will be any MA events added.

Like South Korea added TKD in 1988.

[bushido_man96]

I think that Wu Shu may be a demonstration game, or just demonstrated. They wanted to get it added, but I think it fell through.

[mantis.style]

Short version.

Usually, the host nation gets to add an event if they so choose. Normally, stage one is to get it added as a demonstration event as mentioned above but because of too many issues regarding the sport of wushu as well as China's dubious behaviour ijnpolitical areas, it was decided that they well, didn't deserve it.

There's a complete decision on IOC website that I read a few years back.

[lordtariel]

There is A LOT of politics that go into getting an event added to the Olympics. Not only the politics of the varying countries that participate, but the organizations that comprise the art. I believe they've been trying to slip more martial arts in for years.

[nine_weapons]

last I heard, wushu will not be an event. there are plenty of ma related events though - wrestling, judo, fencing, boxing, archery, equestrian... IMO, all except for the last two are more interesting to watch than wushu anyway.

[bushido_man96]

There is A LOT of politics that go into getting an event added to the Olympics. Not only the politics of the varying countries that participate, but the organizations that comprise the art. I believe they've been trying to slip more martial arts in for years.

Karate has been a topic of addition recenty, too. I don't know if it will get there or not, but there have been some organizations that are beginning to work for recognition by the IOC to represent Karate. One of the big sticking points is that there has to be an "international governing body" to oversee all of the little "national governing bodies" for the even in question. That is how the WTF helped TKD get into the Olympics. They already had the system set up to be used, and the transition was easy.

Like South Korea added TKD in 1988.

TKD wasn't technically added to the Olympic Games in 1988 (you may know this, but I will throw it out there anyway). It was actually a "demonstration game," where it was given a trial, so to speak. I don't think that it became an official Olympic event until the Barcelona games in 1996 (someone let me know if I am wrong here; I am just going by memory). Phillip Rhee, who played Tommy Lee in Best of the Best, was an American representative, and I believe he took home a silver medal from the 1988 demonstration games.

[lordtariel]

last I heard, wushu will not be an event. there are plenty of ma related events though - wrestling, judo, fencing, boxing, archery, equestrian... IMO, all except for the last two are more interesting to watch than wushu anyway.

I just wish that these events weren't broadcasted at such weird times and broken up.

[bushido_man96]

I agree. During the last Olympics, I didn't get to see any of the TKD, Judo, or Wrestling events.

[nine_weapons]

I saw the judo, but had to stay up to see it.

[bushido_man96]

Yeah, like 4 or 5 am, something like that. My brother said he got to see the TKD fights were a really tall Greek got knocked out with a 360 hook kick by a much shorter Korean fighter. It was late at night, though, and I missed out.