Over the last week or two there has been an increased interest in whether Pole Dancing should be included in the Olympics or not. I have sat back reading peoples views and verdicts as to what should or shouldn’t happen and I have to say, it’s been interesting ! To date there seems to be more people for it, but as time moves on more people are seeing the reasons why it shouldn’t be included (and those who think it’s just a stupid idea and would never happen!!)
A few people are leading this campaign, with one saying ‘After a great deal of feedback from the pole-dance community, many of us have decided that it’s about time pole fitness is recognised as a competitive sport, and what better way for recognition than to be part of the 2012 Olympics held in London’. Ok now I’m not one to be negative (if you know me then you know I’m a positive young chap !), but this will never happen! 2012? Cricket & Squash never made it, Baseball got thrown out after 2008, so it would seem a long shot that Pole Dancing would be included in these games. After Barcelona in 1992 the IOC even stopped allowing “sports” to do test or demo events to prove their worth. So what is the way forward? It seems to date that the only thing that is moving forward is the petition with over 4000 names on it. Not a bad feat but would a petition really help in this case? Would the IOC consider it when that list lands on it’s desk or would they simply just push it aside with a puzzled look?
With being in the industry for 6 years it helps knowing what it’s all about and the reasons why people are pushing it forward. Of course it’s nice to be accepted (which we are), it’s great to show the world how hard pole dancing can be (which is it) and to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the worlds other top sports. But is it a sport? It’s definitely a skill which requires endurance, strength, stamina, and choreography. Is it different to gymnastics? Actually no, not that much. BUT there is one huge difference, and that’s the history. You just can’t escape it. No matter how hard people pitch this as fitness 100% through and through, there will ALWAYS be sexual connotations. Is that such a bad thing? NO! Some people love that the fact that Pole Dancing can make you feel good about yourself, and you don’t have to have the figure of an 18yr Polish Vault goddess.
So there really is no sitting on the fence with this one. Whilst there is the gathering support of the petition there are also the voices against this pitch. No matter how hard people try to explain and demonstrate the pure fitness element, the exotic soul will still be attached. I am not saying it is wrong to try and change peoples minds, or let them see another side to the story, but for me, you can’t have the black without the white.
Others will compare Pole Dancing with what is already accepted, gymnastics. What “we” do is very gymnastics based, or at least a part of it is. Even if Pole Dancing was to be accepted, some of the industry’s best would not compare to the transition a “gymnast” who has trained since she or he was 3yrs, would make. So if this is the case, what have we achieved? There is no doubt that Pole Dancers, as with any industry has their factions and at times I feel that we try to undo each others shoelaces, so how can we move forward?
I have included 2 links, the for and the against, so people can make up their own minds: (I hope using these links are ok)
Pole Dancing FOR the Olympics (The best link I’ve found so far)
AGAINST the Olympics (The best link I’ve found so far)
Here is the link for the petition also (I like to house both sides of the story)
http://www.petitiononline.com/polympic/petition.html
Over the next few weeks it will be interesting to see other peoples views and opinions on this, Is it a valid pitch to join the Olympics? Is it free publicity for the spokes person?
I’m sure this blog will carry on for a while yet 
Well said, Mr Jay. It’s important that we have a chance to peruse the facts before making up our minds about this. I am about to release my own little article about this – stay tuned to my Twitter account at http://www.twitter.com/jamilladeville!
Ok, I’ve now published my response at http://tinyurl.com/ycjonge!
I did have an imprint on my butt from sitting on the fence on this last year, so this year I am OFF the fence and am happy to voice my stand.
I don’t think Pole Fitness or Pole Dancing should be in the Olympics, yet…
People who don’t pole are just taking the p!ss out of the idea and saying ‘oooh that’ll make the ratings go up’ and ‘better take some Kleenex to the games’ and ‘hookers on a stick at the Olympics – whatever next’ etc… and I don’t like the industry that I love being the brunt of ridicule.
With a few more years and a bit more acceptance of being a mainstream sport, then yeah, I will support a bid to get Pole Fitness/Dancing in the Olympics but, at the mo, no thanks… Just look at this for public opinion!
http://twitter.com/#search?q=pole%20olympics
It hurts to see so much bigotry for the thing that I love and the people I respect.
So well said AJ x
against it 100% * i think its a silly idea * the against it article has a very good point * that pole studios offer classes to 18+ * lets see sensual workshops such as body movements * floorwork * and strutting in heels . . . that doesnt sound like a sport to me * exotic dancing is more like it * a sport is open to all people and there is no age restrictions either * theres people that try to lie and cover up pole dancing for what it is saying they cant have underage in the gym due to insurance reasons if anything were to happen * bullshit because its an art of adult nature thats why * vertical gymnastics might just make sense * but is there any pole gyms that train strictly for perfect execution of a stunt?? no * thats why it wont ever make it as an olympic sport * you dont see a gymnast on the uneven bars with heels and a flashy outfit either * * to the people that are trying to get this recognized as a sport you better ditch the stripperwear and heels * dont even practice in them either!! cause then you just f**ked up the whole sport image * duh!! * * * and to the people that support pole sport * i have this to say * youre a dancer not an athlete!! * whether you worked at a club or not youre still a dancer . . .
nice blog!!
I have a big big dislike of those who try to “speak for everyone” and pressume that we all agree….I do not agree, pole dancing is not going to make or suit the olympics and neither should it !!
you cannot take the essence away from it, you should not hide its origins or sensuality…no matter how you try put a white picket fence round it and make it all fluffy by saying its gymnastics.
yes it is challenging, yes it is athletic and yes it has elements of gymnastics but it is not an olympic sport. you cannot fomalise and standardise it as it would strip (no pun intended) the origins and freedom away from it. Besides people have problem getting classes in some venues, councils and areas (including gyms) never mind in the olympics. Mr AJ is spot on, the association will never go and for the record it shouldnt do ! its what makes pole dancing pole dancing
thats my tuppence worth anyways LOL
its all wrong i tell ye !? !?
I am of the idea thats its a silly idea and will never happen. Why oh why are we talking about the Olympics? Do you see Chi Pole asking?
Pole dancing isnt even one of the hardest of all the aerial arts.
Its all a bit embaressing really.
I think it should be a winter olympic sport. Bikini and 8 inch shoes in the snow on a pole. Last person with frostbite wins. It doesn’t count if you lick the pole and stick your skin to it.Extra points for artistic performance if you manage to smile convincingly during the entire thing.
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I find the fact that there is a debate over pole dancing in the Olympics amazing. Why is there a need to debate? What difference does it make to one side what the other side wants?
This is much like fitness based polers telling the sensual based polers that what they are doing is wrong or vice versa. I believe the debate is a close correlation with the political thread as well. What we hear from the two sides is “lets get pole dancing in the Olympics” or from the other side “people who want pole dancing in the Olympics are ridiculous” . Now to me the first sounds like a group of people going about their own business and the second sounds like a group of people being judgmental.
If someone wants it in the Olympics they are judged as being right or wrong. Is this really necessary? The only reason to be opposed to something is not because you think it’s “ridiculous” but because you feel it has some moral or ethical impact on the community as a whole or because you feel it is damaging to a community or person.
The main arguments I’ve heard opposed to pole in the Olympics is that it will never be accepted due to it’s roots or that it will change the way we teach and dance.
Well if the first is true then those opposed have nothing to complain about. And I don’t for one minute buy the argument that people are “laughing at us” as being a good reason for opposition. Be honest folks…people are laughing at us for what we do every day. Being and “old schooler” I know that people have always laughed at us. Many of us have not only been laughed at but attacked and repressed us with businesses shut down or prevented from opening due to social stigma. I remember a time when people would have laughed hysterically over pole dancing for charities (and did!) or even being in Cirq De Soleil!
Well none of us got into this thinking they were going to be mainstream and accepted by everyone. If it’s not the Olympic bid, trust me, they will find SOMETHING to laugh at if they don’t like pole dancing. Look at the comments on youtube or after a competition or an article in the news about any pole event or studio.
And as for changing…there is nothing that will force any of us to change how we teach or perform unless we want to be a part of the Olympic competitions ourselves. Every event in the Olympics has mainstream versions around the world which do not have to conform to Olympic policies and guidelines when they are taught in gyms, the park district, or schools.
Lets keep in mind the outcries about women being in the Olympics. The people who thought that women competing was “ridiculous” and would change the world and affect the family or mar the reputation of a woman. History is full of change and the fight for acceptance.
As for whether the bid is too soon – it’s never too soon. It has to start somewhere and the only way to grow the faction that will want to be in the Olympics is by actually getting the ball rolling. Every Olympic bid took years to accomplish…some took decades and pole will be no less. There is a lot to be done including standardization, training, and world wide competitions before it will make the Olympics so starting now when the world of pole dancing is so open to growth is a great time to do it.
I also don’t understand why people presume that if someone supports pole in the Olympics it must be because they require validation of what they do or the need to legitimize it? Again…pole politics and judgment goes both ways here. Maybe someone doesn’t “need” legitimacy but just thinks it’s going to be “fun” to see it in the Olympics.
So, it’s probably obvious that I am more of a supporter of pole in the Olympics than opposition. Pole is different things to different people – Chinese pole, fitness pole, sensual pole, athletic pole etc. Obviously no one is bidding on sensual pole dancing being in the Olympics but some form of pole dancing can certainly fit in. I’m not certain how involved I will or will not get in the bid for the Olympics but I do know that I do not feel the need to oppose it because that simply won’t gain me anything!
This is certainly a hot topic this week. And I think that the most important thing is people are talking about it. Too many people were just jumping on the bandwagon, signing petitions without really thinking it through.
What I’d like people to do is form their own idea and opinion, and not just be a sheep being told what to think.
Check out my blog on the matter: http://thepolereview.bravelog.com/entry/52570
Thanks for continuing the discussion. I also wrote a blog about whether or not I think pole dancing should be in the Olympics.
You can read it at http://www.climbandspin.typepad.com
I love pole dancing and i pole dance myself but i don’t think if pole dance should be in olympic. pole dance it’s more like a dance with acrobatic tricks it’s not really a sport.
[...] at the moment there is a lot of hype about getting Pole Dancing into the Olympics (Check out my recent post), but do you think as an active “doer” within the industry we actually have the right [...]
totally think it should be an olympic sport, the transfer of weight and strengh is amazing if it pulls through,
im competing for my country ….trinidad and tobago….lol