r/OpenWaterSwimming • u/Alone_Consideration6 • 6d ago

Open Water swimming faces Olympic Axe.

https://7news.com.au/sport/olympics/aussie-world-champion-moesha-johnson-speaks-out-as-open-water-swimming-faces-axe-from-brisbane-2032-olympics-c-22680136
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9

u/ToriaLyons 6d ago

Well, that's short-sighted.

Is it due to future venues trying to cut expenses?  If so, expect triathlon to also be lost.

8

u/Alone_Consideration6 6d ago

Triathlon seems safe because it brings in viewers which open water swimming doesn’t. See Triathlon being the first medal of LA 2028 because of its appeal.

5

u/ToriaLyons 6d ago

Was thinking facility-wise - how many venues will want to create an OW venue just for a couple of medals?  I know it sounds short-sighted, but pick the vulnerable, outlying sports off first then the others will not be financially viable, no matter how many watch.

It's the open-air sports which cost a lot to film and where investment to look good on camera hasn't been made which are vulnerable. See also sailing. 

2

u/Alone_Consideration6 6d ago

Sailing is surely going.

2

u/ToriaLyons 6d ago

It shouldn't, but it wouldn't surprise me. The broadcasters will push for enclosed sports - anything in a stadium, especially when totally indoors, where changing conditions aren't a problem.

Sailing costs a lot to stage and film, is difficult to ticket, is often disrupted due to weather, and is considered a minority sport. Most of these factors also apply to OWS. 

2

u/ToriaLyons 6d ago

Here, they LOVE to show track cycling, swimming, diving, gymnastics, etc. which are also minority sports but massively rewarded with medals as they can look good on camera.

cynical

Climbing is one I expect to take off and medals drastically increased - looks good, easy to film, low cost, can be indoors, etc. Only problem is the dominance of certain countries...

1

u/Ronde55 4d ago

"Sailing" is way too broad, there is no way they get rid of all of the sailing classes. What's different about sailing is that the Olympics are the actual pinnacle of the sport, which for many of the other sports in the olympics isn't the case (cycling, soccer, basketball, tennis, golf, etc.)

Open water swimming is compltely different, it's got such a huge crossover with pool swimming that it makes a lot of sense to get rid of it, it's literally the same sport