Believe it or not

Events that have been discontinued from the Olympic programme include tandem cycling, rope climbing, the standing high jump {world record. 1.65m, standing long jump {world record.3.47m}, the tug of war, the 60m underwater swim and live pigeon shooting.
Sports that have lost place at the Games include polo,baseball,croquet,lacrosse and cricket.
After long absences, both golf and rugby union will return to the Olympic competition in 2016.
[Taken from the Radio Times]

Re: Believe it or not

I'd ask why but you never get a straight answer do you??

Re: Believe it or not

Hey I wouldn't mind the tug-of-war ... all those beefy, nicely muscled men ... whew.

The mind boggles though at the standing high jump? How the heck did they manage that one? On a pogo stick?

Re: Believe it or not

I bet I'd win the standing and junping up and down in a temper one.

Re: Believe it or not

I would win the crouching down and hiding under a bench one.

Re: Believe it or not

I remember watching tandem cycling from the Mexico City
Olympics in 1968 and it was hugely entertaining.
Some of the "sports" they have included today are ridiculous such as beach volleyball and trampoline.
As far as I'm concerned any event that can't be measured or quantified has no business in the Olympics.