Womens Hockey: How Much Time Left?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Why? The IOC doesn't have to answer to Human Rights Boards.

No, but the IOC has been working to be more inclusive of women's events where it can. Aside from ski jumping, every other sport now has both a men's and women's component. The days of single gender events are virtually over. Expect women's ski jumping to be added so as to complete this trend in 2014.

[Matty81]

I think they'll continue to give it a chance as long as the gold medal game at least is competitive.

I have no problems with the scores being run up, I think it's pretty classless the way they are jumping around like they've won the cup after the 17th goal though, watching the first game I saw the Canadian women do a dogpile behind the net after a goal in the teens, dunno if I just caught a bad moment.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Come on - not even close to being a fair comparison. Ridiculous in fact, given the popularity of figure skating (personally I hate it, but it is probably the top winter sport).

Not a fair comparison? How so? Yes figure skating is popular, but pairs was absolutely dominated by a country for 36 years...and now look at what is going on, the rest are catching up.

I mean in the Calgary games there were 14 teams in total...3 from russia and 3 from Canada. Compare that to today where it a much more widespread event across all nations....like hockey will be for the girls one day hopefully.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

No, but the IOC has been working to be more inclusive of women's events where it can. Aside from ski jumping, every other sport now has both a men's and women's component. The days of single gender events are virtually over. Expect women's ski jumping to be added so as to complete this trend in 2014.

So stupid to use that reasoning though (not you but in general) - it always seems to me to be the 15 women in a sub-competitive sport pushing for that on gender equality grounds when they just want an olympic medal.

Where are the male synchronized swimmers doing the same?

[flambers]

Originally Posted by transplant99

ceratinly hope not as that thinking would of meant that mens hockey should of been dropped a long time ago as well.

Not even close to being in the same situation, problem is will the IOC have the patience to wait for this sport to develop? As its really clear that there is no competition in this sport other than US and Canada.

I hope Women's hockey will remain an Olympics sport...

Remember the IOC has removed sports before, for example Baseball was recently removed from the Summer Olympics.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Not a fair comparison? How so? Yes figure skating is popular, but pairs was absolutely dominated by a country for 36 years...and now look at what is going on, the rest are catching up.

I mean in the Calgary games there were 14 teams in total...3 from russia and 3 from Canada. Compare that to today where it a much more widespread event across all nations....like hockey will be for the girls one day hopefully.

Again, figure skating was always competitive, even if the Leninists always won. They were doing the same jumps, moves, etc. It's not like the Soviets were doing quads while the rest were skating on double blades. And, again, you can say figure skating is/was the flagship sport of the Winter Games. Women's Hockey not so much...

[MelBridgeman]

keep outta the olympics, stick'm in the macs tourney with the boys

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by flambers

Not even close to being in the same situation, problem is will the IOC have the patience to wait for this sport to develop? As its really clear that there is no competition in this sport other than US and Canada.

I hope Women's hockey will remain an Olympics sport...

Remember the IOC has removed sports before, for example Baseball was recently removed from the Summer Olympics.

Go back 80 years...Canada was beating everyone by 12, 20, 30 goals.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Again, figure skating was always competitive, even if the Leninists always won. They were doing the same jumps, moves, etc. It's not like the Soviets were doing quads while the rest were skating on double blades. And, again, you can say figure skating is/was the flagship sport of the Winter Games. Women's Hockey not so much...

So are the womesn teams, but much like the Soviet competition during their run, they are just better than everyone else, and no it really wasnt very competitive. Just like with womens hockey now, somebody had to win Silver and Bronze...thats how dominant they were back then.

And it doesnt matter what the flagship sport is ( its not pairs BTW, but singles and dance) when its a sport played by enough nations, they will include it, whether or not one dominates or otherwise.

I get why people dont like it/watch it, but just because we are used to a higher level from our women, it doesnt mean that every other nation doesnt want theirs participating, even if getting beat. they then have something to aim for and a first hand knowledge of how to get better.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by flambers

Not even close to being in the same situation

You are right. Women's hockey in its Olympic infancy has two competitive nations. Men's hockey in its Olympic infancy had only one.

Remember the IOC has removed sports before, for example Baseball was recently removed from the Summer Olympics.

Baseball was not removed due to lack of competitiveness, however. Economics played a far bigger role in its elimination than anything else.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Go back 80 years...Canada was beating everyone by 12, 20, 30 goals.

Okay will look it up (when I get home tonight)....

Another factor....Men's hockey is a tough one to use as a comparision as the North American teams were using minor leaguers while the Russians used the Red Army.

However Women's hockey is not in the same situation.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

You are right. Women's hockey in its Olympic infancy has two competitive nations. Men's hockey in its Olympic infancy had only one.

.

The one you are talking about was using Professional players (i.e. Red Army) while the others used Minor leaguers correct?

Any how... I hope Women's hockey does remain an Olympic sport....

[Resolute 14]

Lets simplify this debate.

Sports are not unilaterally removed. They are done so via vote.

So, lets list the countries that would vote to remove women's hockey:

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by flambers

The one you are talking about was using Professional players (i.e. Red Army) while the others used Minor leaguers correct?

Any how... I hope Women's hockey does remain an Olympic sport....

Nope, I am talking about Canada from 1920 to 1952. The only time Canada was even challenged was 1936, when a Great Britain team made up of Canadians beat them for the gold.

The Soviet era from 1956 to 1992 was slightly less competitive than women's is today: the Soviets almost always won gold, and the Czechs almost always won medals as well (in both cases because they were playing pros against amateurs), yet the sport remained. Only since 1994 has the men's hockey tournament really been competitive.

Men's hockey was given 70 years to become competitive. Why are people unwilling to give Women's even 15?

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Table 5

I guess we're just too used to watching high-end talent play, but watching women's hockey, Canada included, is downright painful. The slow moves and the mistakes are aggravating to the max.

Lucky for you there are no women on the internet to read that!

[flambers]

Here is an interesting article... supports Tranny's comments about the mens game but it also states the problem is getting worse in the Women's game....

http://www.ctvolympics.ca/news-centr...n+catch+canada

"So, it is undeniable that it took a great amount of time for any parity to come to the men's game.

In the women's game, however, there is growing concern that the lesser hockey nations are not progressing at all - are, in fact, going backward. While Canada and the U.S. pour tremendous funds into their women's programs, treating them as equal to any athletes and providing the best facilities and coaches, the other countries, such as Russia, offer nothing.

The problem is twofold, says one ranking International Ice Hockey Federation official: resources and undeniable sexism. "


"When there is no real competition apart from fluke, it can be argued that women's hockey is failing to meet the Olympic criterion of widespread competition. If so, and if we accept that the Canadian and American women are world-class athletes who deserve to compete at the highest level in the largest forum, then it is incumbent on both federations, Hockey Canada and U.S.A. Hockey, to lean on the other federations, men's hockey included, to spread those resources around more fairly, and fast. "

[transplant99]

The problem is twofold, says one ranking International Ice Hockey Federation official: resources and undeniable sexism. "

If this is true and widespread, then there is a problem no doubt.

However, I highly doubt that liberal nations like Sweden, Finland and Norway are outwardly sexist when it comes to funding athletes. At least not in recent history.

The bloc countries may be another story, i really do not know. What i do know however is that giving up on a sport just 15 years in based on competative inequality is ludicrous. Again if that was the case, mens hockey should of been punted in the 30's.

Give it time...it will probably get there. Drop it now and it goes away, in Canada and the USA as well, for good.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by transplant99

If this is true and widespread, then there is a problem no doubt.

However, I highly doubt that liberal nations like Sweden, Finland and Norway are outwardly sexist when it comes to funding athletes. At least not in recent history.
.

I believe what the Article meant is Men's Hockey will get most of the ice time, they get the best coaches etc.......

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by flambers

I believe what the Article meant is Men's Hockey will get most of the ice time, they get the best coaches etc.......

Correct...LOL...which would be sexist...no?

[flambers]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Correct...LOL...which would be sexist...no?

Correct that is Sexist.