Winter Olympics 2010

[Not Afraid]

Personally, I like the aesthetic part of sports - I actually like that aspect more than sheer physical prowess. A ski jumper who not only jumps great distances but does so with style, grace and a great landing are a thrill. A figure skater who not only can preform the jumps under presser, but who weaves these jumps into a aesthetically pleasing routine.

Surya Bonaly is a perfect example of this. She was a fantastic jumper but in between her jumps she looked awkward and unprofessional on the ice. Her career foundered, she never got the high marks needed to be a serious contender and she is not able to have a successful professional career either.

You cannot take the aesthetics out of figure skating without hurting the sport. I can't imagine figure skating without music, choreography, theming, costumes, a story and aesthetic movement woven between required elements. It would become "how many consecutive quads or twizzles can so and so perform". Yawn.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

You cannot take the aesthetics out of figure skating without hurting the sport. I can't imagine figure skating without music, choreography, theming, costumes, a story and aesthetic movement woven between required elements. It would become "how many consecutive quads or twizzles can so and so perform". Yawn.

I agree, but that's exactly what's happening to it, it's exactly what's happened to gymnastics, and it's the inevitable result of being on the Olympic stage. Those things are the essence of the sport, but they conflict with the essence of the Olympics. Over time, the Olympics win out and drain the aesthetic from the sport. Who wants that?

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I agree, but that's exactly what's happening to it, it's exactly what's happened to gymnastics, and it's the inevitable result of being on the Olympic stage. Those things are the essence of the sport, but they conflict with the essence of the Olympics. Over time, the Olympics win out and drain the aesthetic from the sport. Who wants that?

The ISO set the rules for figure skating, not the IOC.

There have been changes in rules by the ISO in recent years - Ice Dancing does not allow lifts higher than the shoulder any longer. It has taken Ice Dancing down a notch, but it is still a beautiful sport to watch and the competition was fierce this year - more than it's been in a long time.

Here's my absolute favorite Ice Dancing pair from 1992 - the glory days of ice dancing.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

The ISOU set the rules for figure skating, not the IOC.

True, but the ISU makes changes in response to pressure from Olympic exposure to the sport. The ditching of the 6.0 system in favor of the current system (which now puts more emphasis on technical execution over artistic presentation) is a direct result of the Canadians losing in Salt Lake City in '02. When an aesthetic sport is put in the context of Olympic athletic competition, the expectations change.

I'm not disagreeing that there is merit to the sports, or that there are reasons to admire their participants or enjoy the competition. I just don't think they fit within the context of the Olympics, and I think it does a disservice to the sports to have them there.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

True, but the ISU makes changes in response to pressure from Olympic exposure to the sport. The ditching of the 6.0 system in favor of the current system (which now puts more emphasis on technical execution over artistic presentation) is a direct result of the Canadians losing in Salt Lake City in '02. When an aesthetic sport is put in the context of Olympic athletic competition, the expectations change.

There had been lots of discussion about changing the judging system many years before the 2002 Olympics. When I first started attending National and Worlds and hanging out with Olympic skaters, it was a hot topic of discussion (1992-95). There was no doubt that the ISU was heading for a change in judging rules. What the 2002 Olympics provided was proof of abuse of the judging system which enabled the ISU to push the changes forward.

I don't find figure skating to be a primarily aesthetic sport. It is incredibly physically demanding and requires great athleticism (try jumping, spinning or balancing another person yourself, then try it on a 1/8" blade!). It just also had an element of presentation and aesthetics that is not unheard of in other Olympic sports (Gymnastics, Diving, etc).