Snooker an olympic sport?

[vmax4steve]

Spot on post. Reminds me of this Python sketch:

How to play the flute....

-

Python was absolute genius, reminds me also of a Bill Hicks joke about Jim Fixx who wrote books about jogging,
" What do you write about jogging ?, ermmm left foot, right foot, go home shower."

[jimhassel]

Snooker is a game not a sport so it doesn't make any sense here. Snooker is a novelty here. When my family and friends ask me what I'm into right now, I have to explain what snooker is. Maybe they've seen one snooker table in their entire life, in a foreign film or when stationed in Europe in the military.

[Terry Davidson]

jimhassel:

I'm afraid cue sports are a recognized sport by most national Olympic committees and the IOC. It's played in virtually every country in the world even places like Iran, Iraq and a lot of African countries. Initially, it was wherever the British Empire touched down in the 1800's and later but now it's expanded to almost all countries world-wide where the British were not the influence, like Brazil.

I suppose there are still some South American and African countries where snooker may not be played but there are likely some form of cue sports.

(And where is HERE? There may be snooker tables there, for instance there are in Iceland but perhaps not in Greenland)

Terry

[narl]

Be interesting to see Pool as an olympic sport with Earl Strickland playing in it, ol psycho Earl. That mans just going to have a massive breakdown one day with the way he acts.

[100-uper]

Since the 1950's there have been continuous efforts by sequentially the B&SCC, IBSF and WPBSA to get snooker included as an Olympic sport. The sole reason for the formation of the World Confederation of Billiards Sports (WCBS) was an attempt to meet IOC criteria. This includes Snooker, Pool and Carom billiards under a single organisation. Anyone interested in catching up on these efforts can read the details on the WCBS website

To be fair they have made progress. Snooker is now a recognised IOC sport and is included in the World Games, which is a sort of "second division" Olympics. The game recently becoming popular in China has certainly improved its statistics and enhanced its chances of promotion into the first division, but there are many who think the Games are already too big and feel that a reduction in the number of sports is more likely than the inclusion of new ones.

Here in England, snooker would certainly benefit from being an Olympic sport. At the present time the game is not eligible for any funding, being classified as a "recreational" activity by Sport England. In line with government guidelines for support of aerobic activities, this precludes it from even the consideration of any financial assistance and all organised competition must be paid for by the participants, as must any coaching or other support.

Some of you may have noticed the promotion of "10 reds" snooker by the IBSF driven particularly the Asian Federations. I have no doubt that this is linked to continuing attempts to influence the IOC, so those hoping to see something interesting on TV during the Olympic fortnight may yet be rewarded.

[LittleMissAlexa]

be good for team gb as great britain have always dominated snooker