- The last time Athens hosted the Olympic games, 245 men competed in nine sports - including the always exciting rope climb and one-handed weightlifting.
This year over 10,000 athletes are competing in 37 sports, from badminton to flat water canoeing, and if somehow your favorite game is missing, there is always 2008.
Is the world ready for Olympic tango? How about the gripping action of chess? Or the primal struggle that is tug of war, which actually was an Olympic sport early in the 20th century?
These are just a few of the 30 "sports" lobbying for a spot in 2008.
What Makes the Cut?
But before anyone can water ski or sumo wrestle or mountain unicycle for the gold, federations for these wannabe events must run a marathon of marketing and politics. It's all about convincing the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and just to be recognized, a sport needs participants in 75 nations on 4 continents.
However, popularity only goes so far. People love golf and auto racing, but they are expensive and difficult to stage.
And people love pairs figure skating, but will they will watch the iceless version that is ballroom dancing? The International Dance Sport Federation hopes so. They've been trying to cut in for years.
A little sex appeal never hurts. Synchronized diving and beach volleyball became medal sports after relatively short waits.
Meanwhile, bowling has stood in line since the 1970s. Maybe they should wear more lycra.
Paintball? Video Games? Who Knows?
And then there is the new wave. If shooting is an event, some ask, why not paintball or video games? Don't scoff. Each has been recognized by Australian and Chinese federations, paving the way for future Olympic consideration.
Sure, the IOC says it wants to cap the games at the current size, but who knows? By 2012, we may see it all - competitive yoga, pogo, tight rope walking, cow chip tossing or even doughnut eating. Just think of the dream team we could assemble with America's law enforcement.
Ferret racing is a crowd favorite, and never underestimate the global appeal of tractor pulls.
ABC News' Bob Weir contributed to this report.
This year over 10,000 athletes are competing in 37 sports, from badminton to flat water canoeing, and if somehow your favorite game is missing, there is always 2008.
Is the world ready for Olympic tango? How about the gripping action of chess? Or the primal struggle that is tug of war, which actually was an Olympic sport early in the 20th century?
These are just a few of the 30 "sports" lobbying for a spot in 2008.
What Makes the Cut?
But before anyone can water ski or sumo wrestle or mountain unicycle for the gold, federations for these wannabe events must run a marathon of marketing and politics. It's all about convincing the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and just to be recognized, a sport needs participants in 75 nations on 4 continents.
However, popularity only goes so far. People love golf and auto racing, but they are expensive and difficult to stage.
And people love pairs figure skating, but will they will watch the iceless version that is ballroom dancing? The International Dance Sport Federation hopes so. They've been trying to cut in for years.
A little sex appeal never hurts. Synchronized diving and beach volleyball became medal sports after relatively short waits.
Meanwhile, bowling has stood in line since the 1970s. Maybe they should wear more lycra.
Paintball? Video Games? Who Knows?
And then there is the new wave. If shooting is an event, some ask, why not paintball or video games? Don't scoff. Each has been recognized by Australian and Chinese federations, paving the way for future Olympic consideration.
Sure, the IOC says it wants to cap the games at the current size, but who knows? By 2012, we may see it all - competitive yoga, pogo, tight rope walking, cow chip tossing or even doughnut eating. Just think of the dream team we could assemble with America's law enforcement.
Ferret racing is a crowd favorite, and never underestimate the global appeal of tractor pulls.
ABC News' Bob Weir contributed to this report.
