| The debate on whether bodybuilding should be an | | | | competition for sporting amateurs, not professionals. |
| Olympic sport has been raging for years amongst the | | | | Another reason stated by the IOC for excluding |
| bodybuilding community and those interested in the | | | | bodybuilding from the Olympics was that the judging in |
| Olympics. Ardent fans argue that weightlifting has | | | | competitive bodybuilding was far too subjective for an |
| been an Olympic sport for years, so why not | | | | Olympic judge to critique. Given the controversy |
| bodybuilding? To diehard fans, bodybuilding and the | | | | surrounding the subjective judging of sports such as |
| Olympics seems to be a perfect fit, and questions like | | | | ice skating, diving, and gymnastics this argument hardly |
| "Why is bodybuilding not already an Olympic sport?" | | | | seems to hold water. In fact, bodybuilding would seem |
| are routinely aired. | | | | to be a perfect fit! |
| Perhaps the more telling questions to ask are "Should | | | | How Bodybuilding Could Help The Olympics |
| bodybuilding be an Olympic sport?", and "Would making | | | | As competitive bodybuilding has never been a |
| bodybuilding an Olympic sport help the Olympics?" | | | | mainstream sport, including it as an Olympic Sport |
| Bodybuilding And The Olympics: Why It Is Not Already | | | | would allow the sport to be better known and |
| An Olympic Sport | | | | recognized. It would also make the sport more |
| The current Olympic program consists of 35 sports, 53 | | | | accessible, allowing people to learn more about |
| disciplines and more than 400 events, ranging from | | | | bodybuilding, and possibly participate themselves. |
| archery through to weightlifting and wrestling. The | | | | Bodybuilding would also help the Olympics by widening |
| bodybuilding fan base, competitors, and sponsors are | | | | the scope of sports on display. By showcasing |
| all ready and willing to take the step to Olympic level. | | | | bodybuilding, the Olympics would be encouraging |
| The stumbling block is the International Olympic | | | | people of all ages to eat good food, work out, become |
| Committee and the OPC, who state simply that | | | | fit, and look after their health. These are important |
| according to their criteria, bodybuilding is not a sport | | | | messages in a world where so many people are |
| and there has no place in the Olympics. | | | | overweight. |
| This stand begs the question, "what determines a | | | | A look back into history reveals that the Olympics |
| sport in the first place?". A simple definition by the | | | | were first introduced by the Greeks, who idolized and |
| Australian Sports Foundation says that sport is "a | | | | revered well toned, aesthetic bodies with healthy |
| human activity capable of achieving a result requiring | | | | strong physiques. |
| physical exertion and/or physical skill, which, by its | | | | Bodybuilding And The Olympics: The Main Argument |
| nature and organisation, is competitive and is generally | | | | Against |
| accepted as being a sport." | | | | Besides the drug doping issue, perhaps the most |
| Arguably, bodybuilding fits within this definition, and one | | | | prominent argument against including bodybuilding in the |
| would think this should be enough for the IOC. | | | | Olympics is the subjectivity of judges and the fact that |
| However, the primary problem the IOC has with | | | | there is often no clear winner. Even though other |
| allowing bodybuilding into the Olympics concerns drug | | | | Olympic sports like ice skating are also in this category, |
| abuse. They claim that the widespread use of | | | | the majority of Olympic sporting events feature clear |
| performance enhancing drugs by bodybuilders would | | | | winners, either by time, distance, height or lifting weight. |
| prevent bodybuilding from complying with Olympic drug | | | | No one can argue that judging mistakes have been |
| policies. There are harsh and vigilant doping rules for | | | | made when a competitor clearly wins an event. |
| Olympic competitors, which would certainly exclude | | | | Although the jury is still out on bodybuilding and |
| many professional bodybuilders. | | | | Olympics, it seems for the time being at least, that the |
| However, the natural bodybuilding fraternity does not | | | | Olympic Committee has no intention of including |
| use performance enhancing drugs. The Olympics could | | | | bodybuilding as an Olympic sport. Despite the fact that |
| uphold their drug policies, allowing only natural | | | | the bodybuilding fraternity is ready and willing to take |
| bodybuilders to compete at the Olympics. This also | | | | the step to Olympic level, it looks like they will be |
| aligns with the tradition of the Olympics being a | | | | waiting for some time yet. |