Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Column HR462
Olympics and Darts… Yea or Nay?
Every four years about this time, dart fans ask: “Why aren’t darts in the Olympics?” With as many answers as opinions you may as well just pay your money and make your choice.
Many years ago, the Old Dart Coach sat on the board of the World Darts Federation, representing Thailand. In that capacity he made an honest attempt to advance the cause of seeing darts in the Olympics.
Note “honest” (as previous “attempts” were) by the WDF was fake news. Due to the prevailing “wisdom” of the WDF leadership the ODC was simply “shoving sh** against the tide.” Then, thanks to the American Darts Organization he was voted off the WDF board. Be damned what Thailand wanted.
The simple route to seeing darts added as an Olympic sport is to “grease” the palms of enough International Olympic Committee members with Coin of the Realm. Do that and darts would be in like Flynn.
We all know how Flynn operates…
Without money, there are a number of requirements. “One of the requirements is that there be an international governing body that oversees and organizes the sport. This governing body must meet IOC standards and be a member of the Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federations (ARISF).”
According to a darts web source, which may be a little dodgy, neither the WDF nor PDC “are currently recognized as sports federations by the IOC.” It’s 100% that the WDF would argue that conclusion (not without some degree of merit).
A sport must be practiced in 75 nations for men and on four continents. The women’s (sport) must be played in 40 nations and on three continents. Both the WDF and PDC easily meet these requirements for continents. The PDC falls way short as to nations.
Currently, 76 member organizations are affiliated with the World Darts Federation. The PDC has 128 Tour Card holders but no women’s member division as such. The requirement that the sport be global and competitive would produce a strong YES. That takes into account defining what “competitive” is.
Other considerations are merely frosting on the cake especially with the proviso that (the sport) “must contribute to the promotion of peace, respect, and understanding between different cultures and people.” What a load of bull. Then add: “The sport must have an established history and have been practiced internationally for a considerable time.” Here again one must question what “a considerable time” is.
The bottom line is that the World Dart Federation would be able to check the above boxes. But, as always, there is a spanner in the works…
There is an additional requirement that “the international governing body and national federations must be financially stable and able to organize events without financial problems.” Since the financial collapse of the BDO, plus the emergence of the PDC, finances have been a well-documented problem for the WDF.
Three current stars of the PDC – Luke Humphries, Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen – have stated that they would like to see darts in the Olympics. Luke Humphries myopic view is: “‘Right now, darts is probably the second or third biggest sport in England. It’s growing and getting bigger in so many other countries. It’s probably the biggest sport that’s not in the Olympics.” Earth to Luke. Fact check.
Michael van Gerwen takes another approach. ”I see other sports that are not as professional or as big as we are. It’s up to the Olympic committee. It’s out of my control.” One might reasonably ask: What control?
One must truly wonder where Michael Smith got his information when he said: “The IOC could line its pockets with the sport of darts. We have more visitors than soccer and soccer is in the Olympics. It would make a lot of money for the Olympic Committee.” Soccer is the #1 sport in the world. Anyone that thinks darts is bigger or more popular than soccer (nee Footbol) has a serious problem. Possibly when Earth is done talking to Luke they might dial up Michael.
Wayne Mardle is a man with opinions, and he’s never shy about expressing them. ”I think the sport of darts is mainly about the world championship. The Olympics would be secondary. The Olympics is for Olympians. The Olympics should be about how fast or strong you can be.” Soccer protected their World Cup and other Cups by making Olympic soccer an under 23 event. That deprives the Olympics of established stars.
Wayne Mardle is joined by John Part in his view. ”I would love it if the Olympics had a few less events. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to see darts get a little more attention. I love the main events, the 100 meters and weightlifting.”
Before this Olympics, the ODC would have added women’s beach volleyball as a favorite. Alas, the players are no longer wearing really small bikinis. Spoil sports the IOC is.
NEWS ALERT: The ODC’s plea about the women’s beach volleyball costumes has been answered! The teeny bikinis are back! The Lord works in mysterious ways.
In the end, toss out all the IOC requirements as they are mostly irrelevant. The IOC can add or delete sports at will every four years.
When the IOC adds sports, as they have want to do, there is many times an undercurrent of something shady going on. This year, France added break dancing…
After just a cursory look at break dancing one must conclude that the “sport” checks none of the boxes for inclusion in the Olympics. That would lead a person to suggest that possibly that plenty of “tea money” changed hands. (The term “tea money” comes from the Thai custom of paying bribes which were placed under teacups for the corruptible – a definition that the IOC is the poster child for.)
In 2012, the Olympics were hosted in London. That would have been the perfect time to add darts, at least for that year. The England Olympic Committee took a pass with a “thank you, but no.”
The ODC’s opinion, which no one is clamoring for, is that if darts would be added the WDF would be the logical choice. The” Butt Monkey” is that by all dart standards their product is inferior to the PDC, except when it comes to the ladies. The PDC doesn’t need the Olympics as they are sailing along.
Darts in the Olympics? Sure – when the cow clears the moon. No way, Jose.’
Stay thirsty my friends.
