User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
|
Posted: 8/23/2004 6:40:04 AM EDT
I am just wondering what the concensus is here at ARFCOM.
Let me say outright that I believe that it IS a good Olympic sport (and the U.S. Shooting Team is the only Olympic group to whom I actually send a little money). BUT! Is shooting really a form of ATHLETIC competition? I know, I know, a target shooter must control his breathing, heart rate, and above all, his nerves, but so must a billiard champion. Is this really enough? What about throwing darts? Shouldn't that be an Olympic sport, too? Soley on the grounds of tradition, competitive target shooting should probably be included as it's one of the oldest international competitions in the "modern era" dating back to at least the late nineteen hundreds. But is it ATHLETIC competition? 
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/23/2004 6:46:13 AM EDT
[#1]
As long as baseball is considered a sport so should shooting. Although I prefer the word "event".
And there is physical demands put on a shooter. Arm and back conditioning does factor into it. SGtar15 |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/23/2004 6:49:29 AM EDT
[#2]
beach volleyball
nuff said |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/23/2004 6:50:37 AM EDT
[#3]
have you ever stayed down in kneeling position for 45-50 minutes?
have you ever hold a 17 pound rifle steady in offhand for 40 shots? ping-pong players are generally scrawny, weak dweebs with fantastic hand/eye coordination and lightspeed reflexes. shot-putters are sometimes fat and carry a big gut around. marathoners often can't lift 75 lbs. over their heads. a high jumper would look silly on a vault horse. different skill sets and different muscles required. the degree of fine motor control used in smallbore 3p shooting is phenomenal. |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/23/2004 6:59:15 AM EDT
[#4]
 The finest Olympic sport bar none!…  ANdy |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/23/2004 7:01:15 AM EDT
[#5]
Way back when in history, the Olympics were games to celebrate military victory. The original games were things you did in combat, i.e. javlin, wrestling, running, boxing, fencing, horseback riding. The modern Olympics were originally supposed to reflect that spirit. Shooting well is a skill and an ability few people have. I think it is ahead of softball, horseshoes, dancing with ribbon or swimming in pairs or any number of stupid events that are now considered sports.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/23/2004 7:02:21 AM EDT
[#6]
Indeed! 
|
||
|
|
|
Posted: 8/23/2004 7:05:41 AM EDT
[#7]
Considering they allow figure skating as an olympic sport (a 'sport' that dends on judges opinions and prejeduces instead of a hard score) why not? Also consider the Olympics were orginally based on events related to military service shouldn't shooting events included in the modern era? |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/23/2004 7:06:10 AM EDT
[#8]
a big +1, basically what I was going to post. Modern Olympics with useless games like ping-pong and *shudder* I've heard rumors that Bridge players want to "play" in the Olympics... This is a traveshamockery of what the Olympics were supposed to represent. Only addition: Coolio, think about the Biathlon as well. Skiing and shooting? |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/23/2004 7:16:02 AM EDT
[#9]
I can just see it now, "and in final the of the Mens .50 BMG we have the United States"…… ANdy |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/23/2004 7:19:01 AM EDT
[#10]
The Biathlon is actually a military-based event, or has military strategies based on it.
Finnish snow troopers, in the Russo-Finnish war, would come gliding out of the forest at top speed, gun down a Russian unit, and glide away. |
|
|
|
Posted: 8/23/2004 7:21:36 AM EDT
[#11]
Good thought! I hadn't considered that reasoning. Thanks everybody! Several good comments.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/23/2004 7:25:29 AM EDT
[#12]
As long as there is anything "syncronized" in the Olympics then any questionable athletic competition is justifiable.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/23/2004 7:30:34 AM EDT
[#13]
YES it is, because there is a freaking twenty-something Kilometer walk!! It's a damn WALK! So if walking is an event, then shooting is also
|
|
|
|
Posted: 8/23/2004 8:04:17 AM EDT
[#14]
Yes it is,
having competed priviously in standard, free, and air pistol I'd say yes, there is a lot involved. Granted you're not running or anything but the basic competition among individuals or teams is there same as it is with any other sport. BTW I think ballroom dancing is in there too (for those of you looking to point out odd 'sports')  *and there's my 100th post |
|
|
Win a FREE Membership!
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.
