Pole dancing in line to become Olympic sport

[steve2470]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/pole-dancing-in-line-to-become-olympic-sport-whfrbf6g6

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Pole dancing has come a long way since it appeared at 1980s strip clubs. It now has an accepted scoring system
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One has its origins in Ancient Greece when long spears were used for vaulting the walls of besieged cities, the other traces its roots to the strip club boom of the 1980s.

Yet within a decade it looks possible that pole dancing could join pole vaulting as an Olympic sport.

The Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) confirmed yesterday that it has given observer status to the International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF) in a move which sets out a “clear pathway” towards full Olympic recognition.

Patrick Baumann, president of GAISF said it was an “exciting time” for pole sports and added: “We will do everything within our remit to help them realise their full potential and . . . one day, maybe become part of the Olympic programme”.

[Beakybird]

1. We need a poll to decide.

[Orrex]

12. I find pollish jokes offensive

[Wounded Bear]

2. Well, one has to be fairly athletic to do that...

and it qualifies as gymnastics.

[BSdetect]

3. What about Synchronized Pole Dancing and Underwater Pole Dancing?

[Lars39]

4. Amazing how everybody else is wearing full winter gear and she get to freeze

her ass off to compete.

[steve2470]

5. +1 nt

[PoliticAverse]

6. Yeah really, wth?! I just hope she doesn't...

let her tongue touch the pole...

[FSogol]

7. It won't stick, you're full of beans and so's your old man. I double dog dare you...

[global1]

8. A Feeble Attempt To Boost Television Ratings To....

watch the Olympics.

From the pic I guess it could be both a Summer & Winter event.

[Dave Starsky]

9. And who will be the judges for this?

"From the United States, we have Kandee Kupkakes from Shooter's in Gatlinburg, TN."

[Dave Starsky]

11. And on TV...

"I'm Bob Costas, and to my left is Dan Trefoya of Dirty Dan's in San Diego, CA. Coming up is Taffy Lynn from the United States."

"Dan, I noticed that Taffy Lynn has chosen "Hot Blooded" by Foreigner for her first number."

"Yes, Bob, and that may cost her some points against the UK's choice of "I'm Alive" by Love & Rockets and Germany's "Oh, Yeah" by Yello. We'll see if Taffy can make up for it with the technicals."

[moda253]

21. Huh, ya know that people not working as dancers also engage in this sport.

I guess if you tilt the pole sideways it makes all the difference in the world. And the competing athletes even wear the same basic outfit. What? No shaming for them?


Unreal.

[Dave Starsky]

29. Really? You seem to know a lot about this.

Can you tell me where I might find these athletic events, on either the state or local level, that aren't held at "gentleman's clubs"? Because, let's be quite honest, that's the first thing that everyone thinks of.

[bathroommonkey76]

34. "sport"

Hahahahhahahaha

That is not a frickin' sport! This is some weird attempt to draw ratings to the dying Olympic brand.

It's on the same level as this shit:

[snooper2]

44. yes, all 403 of them LOL

It's not dancing if you are stuck to a pole. Now, if the poll was mobile and they hop around like a pogo stick and do spinning tricks, that might actually be something...

Wait-

New Thing

POGO POLL DANCING!

[WinkyDink]

22. Harvey Weinstein.

[moda253]

26. But this is different....

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[Kaleva]

38. People with fistfulls of 10 dollar bills

[Not Ruth]

10. Can the wet tshirt Olympics be far behind?

[3catwoman3]

13. No.

Just no.

[genxlib]

15. I was going to say exactly this.

[3catwoman3]

18. On a related note, have you...

...noticed that many of the women's beach volleyball teams at the Olympics are much more covered than the US competitors? Why must our team compete nearly naked?

Even if I had a body as lithe and lean as Kerry Walsh Jennings, I wouldn't want my butt cheeks hanging out.

[genxlib]

35. At the risk of sounding like a pig...

I have definitely noticed.

I can see why you would connect these two issues but I don't know if I would.

There are plenty of cases where women compete in a sexualized environment where sex appeal is part of the sales pitch. It definitely exists and is a problem.

However, I think beach volleyball uniforms may actually come from an organic place. The sport literally grew up on the beach and people played it in beachwear. Most of the old-school players (including Walsh Jennings) learned the game on the beach. I think it is legitimately part of the habit and culture to wear the type of "uniforms" you mention.

I think a new generation may change that dynamic. The sport has become more integrated into the sports mainstream through parks and intercollegiate athletics. There are now an entire generation of players who have made it to the highest levels without ever playing on an actual beach.

Just so you know. I am a huge volleyball fan and would watch them if they played in parkas. Beach Volleyball in particular holds a special place for me. I lived on South Beach in the early 90's when the game was coming alive and used to play on the Beach there. I was never all that good but it gave me an appreciation for the sport. To this day, it is my answer to the classic sports talk radio argument about which sport has the best athletes.

[Orrex]

36. That is absolutely true

If they wish to do so, then there's absolutely no reason why they female volleyball players shouldn't get to wear something analogous to the males' uniforms.

Equally, male volleyball players should get to wear speedos like the male swim team, if they wish.

[Dave Starsky]

42. Remember that the Olympics were originally all-nude.

The word "gymnasium" even comes from that.

Conservative guy that I am, I am completely in favor of restoring these old traditions. As long as it applies to both genders.

[Orrex]

43. I would leave it to the athletes' discretion, of course

But when I participated in the block party's beanbag toss that way, the prudes objected.

[Dave Starsky]

46. Oh, no. It should definitely be mandatory.

Events like the pommel horse will reach a whole new level of tension and excitement when the twig and berries are on the line. The Ancient Greeks knew this. And the Olympics today wonders why they are losing viewers.

As to your block party experience, I'm sorry that happened to you. It just goes to show you how poorly people today are educated in classical literature and history.

[MrsCoffee]

20. +1

[Orrex]

14. The athleticism of pole dancing is astonishing

Yes, it's easy to make jokes about strippers, as if women in that line of work (and in general) don't already get enough abuse, but the physicality of serious pole dancing is every bit as intensive as gymnastics.

It requires remarkable strength, dexterity, balance, timing and focus. If its practitioners push to make it an Olympic event, I applaud them.

Hell, if bowling can be an Olympic sport...

[DavidDvorkin]

16. Agreed.

[MrsCoffee]

17. Oh come on.

Let's take objectification of women and make it an Olympic sport. Yeehaw....



I'm sure if they are so athletic they could compete in a real sport that isn't based on objectification.

[Orrex]

24. Perhaps we could put swimmers in burkhas and hurdlers in ankle length skirts, too

And have you seen what some of the male divers are wearing? Scandalous!

I'm sure if they are so athletic they could compete in a real sport that isn't based on objectification.

What a patronizing and insulting attitude. If they have chosen to participate in pole dancing, why would you require them to choose a "real" sport instead?

Have you spoken with any serious practitioners? Why don't you contact a few of them and tell them what you think of their sport?

[moda253]

27. Agree

+1


The shaming on here is unreal.

[MrsCoffee]

30. It isn't about what they are wearing, but you go with that.

I imagine men everywhere are going to be twisting themselves in knots pretending this is some sort of legitimate sport. Can't imagine why. I mean, surely it has nothing to do with the objectification of women.

[Orrex]

32. Everything about the Olympics is about the objectification of the athletes

You can't possibly be so naive as to imagine otherwise, can you?

Do you dismiss figure skating as well? The competitors are judged on costume design, and surely you must reject that as objectification, too? After all, those athletes are bendy.

[Kaleva]

40. Like women don't like watching male athletes who are in prime physical shape & objectify them.

[bluepen]

39. Exactly. I guess some choices are not worthy of respect.

[WinkyDink]

19. Let's cut the crap: Pole-dancing originated as a way to have women spread their legs while looking

"bendy."

"Observer status." I'll bet.

[moda253]

23. And most sports started as a way for males to show off their muscles and brute strength

WTF?!?!?!

[Orrex]

25. Then how can you possibly tolerate women's gymnastics?

All those shamefully bendy women using their bodies where people can see them! Shocking!

[bathroommonkey76]

37. hahahahaa

[Jim Beard]

45. Even very young girls are given minus points on their scores if they pull their tights out of their

butt crack after performing. Was told this by a mother whose daughter was a contestant.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

28. I'd hate to see pole dancing corrupted by the influence of the IOC.

[smirkymonkey]

31. Will men being competing in this event in tight skimpy little spandex briefs showing

their buns of steel and bulging "packages"? If so, I'm all for it!

[Orrex]

33. Bring it on!

Heaven forbid someone actually see an athlete's body!

[Kaleva]

41. History of pole dancing can be traced back to 12th century China

Last edited Tue Oct 17, 2017, 01:26 PM - Edit history (1)

where it was a circus act.

[Dave Starsky]

47. And even then, nine centuries ago...

They still denied that any sex went on in the Tea Room.