Skateboarders campaigning against Olympic inclusion
A petition seeking to overturn the decision to introduce skateboarding at the 2020 Olympic Games has been launched by skateboarders wanting to keep their sport “pure”.
While a number of high profile skaters – such as Tony Hawk and Shaun White – have campaigned long and hard for Olympic inclusion, it seems that the core of the grassroots have a different view on the efforts to commercialise skateboarding and the drive to establish it as an organised, competitive sport.
The petition (which can be accessed here), has already garnered 5,600 signatures and calls for the IOC to reverse its decision to have skateboarding at the Tokyo Games in 2020.
A statement from the group behind the petition says: “Skateboarding is not a sport and we do not want skateboarding exploited and transformed to fit into the Olympic program.
“With due respect for Olympic athletes, we the undersigned skateboarders and advocates strongly request that the IOC not recognise skateboarding as an Olympic sport, or use skateboarding to market the Olympics.
“Further, we ask that the IOC not recognize any individuals or groups claiming to be the IOC recognized governing body of skateboarding or provide funding to them.
“We feel that Olympic involvement will change the face of skateboarding and its individuality and freedoms forever. We feel it would not in any way support skateboarders or skateparks. We do not wish to be part of it and will not support the Olympics if skateboarding is added as an Olympic sport.”
Those that have signed the petition include skateboarders from all backgrounds and from around the world.
Alex Cushing from New Hampshire, US said: “One of the greatest things about skateboarding is that there are no winners or losers. The sport is highly opinionated, and to quantify who/what country would be a mistake.”
Doug Midkiff MacInnis from Canada said: “Skateboarding is not a sport, it’s a form of art. It is crude to try to lay judgement on artistic expression, giving it a value based on a point system that is biased at best. You still haven't proven that figure skating is bias-free.”
Not all of the signatories are skateboarders, however, and the petition has attracted support from those who do not want to see skaters in the Olympics for a very different reason.
“I do not want hippies jumping on bits of wheeled cardboard (sic) in the Olympics - it's a ridiculous notion,” writes Harry Wagstaff from Alaska, US.
• Skateboarding is one of five new sports set to make their Olympic debute in 2020, alongside baseball, karate, climbing and surfing. Three other sports – bowling, squash and wushu (a Chinese martial art) – failed to make the cut from a shortlist of eight.
To read the petition, click here
Japanese onsen operator to be bought by US private equity firm ahead of Tokyo Olympics 2020
Arup selected to masterplan 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Britain to share tourism expertise with Japan ahead of Tokyo Olympics
IOC opts for 'safe, well organised Games' in choosing Tokyo
UAE’s first Dior Spa debuts in Dubai at Dorchester Collection’s newest hotel, The Lana
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Three years after Pegasus Capital bought Six Senses, how close is the private equity firm to realising its goals for its first spa and hospitality investment? Pegasus’ founder Craig Cogut tells us what’s been achieved and what comes next