BMX street at the Olympics?
Looks like street BMX (I guess they mean park really) may be the next Olympic sport, have a read of this. I have mixed feelings on this. On one hand bmx is quite a subjective ‘sport’ and is judged on an individuals opinion as much as anything else, I don’t know how they’d go about judging it as an Olympic event. It also bothers me that British cycling suddenly seem to be taking this interest after so many years of doing literally nothing for bmx (except racing), do we really want to sell out too some suits who haven’t really got a clue? Especially as having read that article the bloke in charge of it comes across as a bit of a knob. Also I have a feeling that about 70% of riders would failt eh drugs test anyway. Plus it just seems plain wrong, I for one, and I’m guessing a lot of other people out there, ride, at least in part, because its not a mainstream sport and is therefore immune too all the bullshit rules and stuff that go with it.
On the other hand though, being an Olympic sport would mean that all sorts of other funding avenues would open up for new parks, and the general public might start to take BMX a little more seriously, although again there is a questiona s to whether this would actually be a good thing or not. Anyway, gotta get back too work now, apologies if that didn’t make much sense I was in a bit of a rush. Would be interested to know other poeples thoughts on the matter in the comment box…
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My opinion is I’ll believe it when i see it.
Don’t you know BMX is about winning? I do 1,000 press ups a day and drink nothing but Lee Boyle’s Health drinks… because its all about being a jock and sweet victory!. Screw riding because its fun, thats rubbish!!
Seriously tho, I don’t mind if its in or not….
It could be quite an awesome event. Grotbags on the mic at the Olympics? rrrttteeeyyyaaaa!!!
I first saw it as a bad thing. Considering not many people care to much about bmx being a sport and now suddenly its recognised because its going to be an Olympic sport.. But then thought that it would help bring more parks to the uk and more can only be a good thing, ill just put aside the commercial aspect of Olympics and BMX and just concentrate in having fun.
bmx isn’t a sport, it’s a performing art. like music or dancing or gymnastics. it shouldn’t be in the olympics. it’s not a competition.
This got me riled up so I wrote this:
http://scruffian.com/articles/bmx-its-not-a-competition/
“bmx isn’t a sport, it’s a performing art. like music or dancing or gymnastics. it shouldn’t be in the olympics. it’s not a competition.”
Comments like this are a bit short-sighted in my opinion, all these “performing arts” are judged through some form of competition, just as BMXers are judged at jams, dew tours and xgames, and even I guess by who gets sponsored and who doesn’t. I dont think you will find many serious Gymnasts who aren’t interested in doing well at competitions to be honest.
Riding is what you make of it, and if this doesn’t interest you that is of course fine, but people tend to make sweeping statements on what everyone who rides a bike should think, just based on their own opinion. There are thousands of people out there who would love to make a career out of riding, just as there are equal numbers happy just having a blast in the woods.
If Park gets into the Olympics it will put BMX into the minds of every person in the street, walking their dogs through woods etc. It may not be fair, but BMX would be legitimised in the eyes of the public by its inclusion. The reason hundreds of sets of trails have been ploughed is mainly down to peoples ignorance with regard to what we are even doing still riding a BMX.
Changing peoples mindset, so that even in the back of their heads they have some recognition of it, will lead to less spots getting ploughed, and less people complaining about skateparks being built near them. Maybe we will start to see dedicated bikeparks, instead of skateparks.
I’m pretty excited to see what effects it’s going to have.
This is good I was hoping for some intelligent discussion on the subject. Myself I still cant make my mind up…
i think girls might appreciate it a bit more if its in the olympics? just a thought.
if you are worried about it losing its ‘free sport’ appeal then dont, it is what you make it. your local mp wont come up the trails because bmx is in the Olympics. it will bring lots of money in to the sport, more parks and tracks around wouldn’t be bad.
however the bmx we are all into doesnt suit the vibe of the olympics, it relys too much on sytle and individuality, i think this is too hard to judge.
I think competitions like the dew tour are suitiable. at the moment it seems like the amount of whips, barspins, flips and twists governs your score, this type of riding could be in the olympics.
thats my vague, slightly contradictory opinion anyway.
The idea is wank! Just another plan of the spasys incharge to try and mingle with the lower class so they have less chance of being called tossers when they walk past sniggering at bmxers falling arse over tit trying rails in the dark.
It’s a wicked thing that it’s going to be in the olympics. Having it as a sport means competitors, having competitors means they are going to need places to practice, which will mean a lot more skateparks in the local areas, as well as BMX being brought into the public mind as a positive step for young people. It will be less frowned upon and better funded, and so what if people want to do 1080 triple barspin backflips just to win at the olympics, doesn’t mean everybody else has to, but we still get to use the benifits of more and better parks.
yes bmx is what we do for fun and it is about expressin yourslef and all that jazz but all the olympics would be like is like back yard! i recon it will be a treat and i canny wait for it!
ummmmmm!!!!
Who actually gives a fuck?…
Just ride your bike
I like Deanus plan!!
..Also bmx has its own history, A separate narrative that does not link it to the sports that appear in the olympics. What will be will be…. if so The riders that would take part of this olymipic bmx comp, I think will have to wear liyra! LOL