After longtime association with seedy clubs, g-strings and clear heels, pole dancing is looking to shimmy its way into more athletic surroundings… the Olympics! A group of advocates for the “sport” are pushing to be added to the 2012 Olympics in London. Pop that thang for details.
A group of pole-dance advocates is hoping for a “test” event in 2012 and a more formal pitch four years after that, in Rio de Janeiro, according to The Associated Press.We can see it now … “Winning the Gold Medal for the USA …. CINNAMON BUNS!!!!”
KT Coates, a prominent pole dancer in England and director of Vertical Dance, is leading the Olympic push.
“After a great deal of feedback from the pole-dance community, many of us have decided that it’s about time pole fitness is recognized as a competitive sport, and what better way for recognition than to be part of the 2012 Olympics held in London,” she said in a petition she’s preparing for organizers of the London Olympics.
Coates added that the prospective sport “has the wow factor.”
While her petition now has about 4,000 signatures, she is hoping to add 1,000 more.
Advocates of pole dancing say other even more unlikely sports have gotten the approval of the International Olympic Committee. Tug of war was an early Olympic medal contest, and curling is now huge at the Winter Games.
Yet, well-established sports like cricket and squash haven’t managed to get a spot for themselves at the Olympics, and baseball and softball recently got the ax. The International Olympic Community would need to recognize pole dancing as a sport, which could prove to be an uphill battle.
But pole-dance enthusiasts are hopeful about their chances to go for the gold.
“It’s just a matter of time before pole dancing gets Olympic recognition,” says Ania Przeplasko of Hong Kong, founder of the International Pole Dancing Fitness Association.
“There will be a day when the Olympics see pole dancing as a sport,” she told The Associated Press. “The Olympic community needs to acknowledge the number of people doing pole fitness now. We’re shooting for 2012.”
Obviously if it makes it to the Olympics it won’t be that kind of “pole dancing” — even with the raunch factor taken down this sounds like a move that would guarantee a boost in TV ratings.
Do you think Pole Dancing should be an Olympic sport?
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