Should Snooker replace Dressage at the Olympics?

[kanter]

The Guardian Sports Correspondent thinks it should:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/16/olympics2008.olympicsequestrian

 

[Ezme]

oh for gods sake. didn't get alway through it but he seriously needs to get his facts straight

 

[Daffodil]

Don't be daft!!!

 

[Fox07]

This is just The Guardian trying to be controversial. The writer obviously doesnt have a clue, have they ever sat on a horse? Do they realise the skill that goes in to riding in general let alone dressage/ jumping/ three day eventing? Perhaps if they gave it a go they would realise the skill required, dressage it gymnastics on horse back. its not everyones cup of tea but when I watch a brillant test it inspires me to improve my own riding.

 

[PeanutButterDragon]

Right then - I think we should chuck him onto a horse . . . . . Since it requires no skill or accomplishment to compete in Dressage he should be able to give Anky a run for her money

 

[L00bey]

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Quite what treatment these creatures have been put through to get them to be this odd I dread to think.

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and



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I completely understand why it's good to make horses run fast or jump over things

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Jesus Christ. The first one made me

he 2nd one made me laugh what a nob...

 

[Rachel_M]

QR- Oh great.

I thought Dressage could be boring to watch occasionally but having to watch multiple rounds of snooker would put me to sleep.

I still can't quite get my head around people paying to watch a snooker match in the first place as it is. Darts, as well.

EDITED TO ADD- There is no way a knowledgeable Olympic committee would ever consider it.

 

[lar]

Well given the whole rollkur debate I think the journalist makes a fair point there A_F.

Also - although I'd hate for horse sports to be taken out - I think there is something to be said for saying that sports which involve subjective judging aren't really sports.

Doesn't mean to say snooker is one though...

It's obviously written in a deliberately inflammatory tone but I don't think the actual thinking behind it should be just dismissed as ignorant.

I can fully appreciate why as a layman he finds dressage incomprensible. Rather than just dismissing him as ignorant surely we should turn it round to see how we (meaning those involved in competing and running the sport at whatever level) have failed by not making it understandable to the casual observer,

 

[kirstyhen]

Oh dear, someone trying to be clever and failing.

 

[L00bey]

Fair point R_S but he doesnt know about all that..

Also why should we?? No other sport makes it understandable for the casual obsever... e.g. Fencing, gymnastics, Diving, Sailing..... the list goes on.

 

[trendybraincell]

I'm with A-F

You encounter questionable tactics in any "sport", in many cases some people are willing to do almost anything to get to the top. But that does not make it acceptable to tar all competitors with the same brush.

It is ridiculous to single out dressage just because he doesn't understand it, how many times has someone tried to explain the offside rule in football to you...in my case I just don't understand tennis.I'm sure its really very simple but christ me I just don't get it!!

 

[Flame_]

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Well given the whole rollkur debate I think the journalist makes a fair point there.....

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Agree 100%.

As for replacing anything with SNOOKER, they've got to be taking the p***.

 

[Boodle]

What a knob.

 

[burtie]

I watched the judo and all I saw was two people rolling around on the floor, when points were awarded I had no idea why and didn't even understand the points structure. Would I even think for a moment it shouldn't be in the olympics just because I didnlt understand what was going on?

Of course not.

 

[PaddyMonty]

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Also - although I'd hate for horse sports to be taken out - I think there is something to be said for saying that sports which involve subjective judging aren't really sports.


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That would remove a lot of sports...gymnastics, diving, judo, boxing etc.

 

[hellsdarkrose]

maybe we should all contact the guardian and explain dressage to them

 

[Kat]

WTF??!!

What an unbelievably ignorant article....

....I just don't know where to start!!

 

[dressager]

I'm not a crazy classical dressage only type, but I do think dressage is primarily an art form. Even if it was removed (which I hope not!) dedicated dressage riders would still continue to practice it and appreciate it for the rewards which are not necessarily medals. The same can't be said for running or whatever which relies on the competition aspect.

However, it would be awful if it were to be removed from the Olympics and I think that guy is just being plain rude! I bet he wouldn't have said things like that if Katie Price had been taking part! Mind you, I don't know anyone non horsey that watches the dressage so I can see where people are coming from. You need an extremely knowledgable eye to know what you are looking at, and even the average rider/horse lover does not see a good piaffe very often to know what it should look like. And the subjectivity and supposed bias in the dressage world doesn't help.

 

[hellybelly6]

I couldnt understand the judging of fencing, but I dont say, get rid of it in favour of line dancing or something.

The writer is an ignorant f/wit