Skateboarding was one of the five new sports added to the Tokyo 2020 events list. But why is skateboarding in the Olympics anyway? The answer is that Olympic Games is trying to get rid of their dusty image of what belongs in the major sports circuits. That is why the Olympic Committee has chosen skateboarding as an idea to appeal to a younger crowd. While some skaters shun the idea of competitive skateboarding altogether, some are intrigued by the idea. Whatever the case, skateboarding will be one of the most anticipated events to watch in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
”Showing skateboarding in the Olympics could help spread the culture to whole new areas and spark the interest of a completely new audience”.
The positives of having skateboarding in the olympics
We’re expecting to see a surge of sports fans coming together in an exciting new sports that is ultimately unknown to the mainstream consumer. That is both an incredible opportunity and a worrisome at the same time. Skateboarding in the olympics will always have their fans but not always from the actual community they represent. Thus, as much positive recognition it gets, it may not be a real interpretation of skate culture.
New crowd and more fans
Having skateboarding in the Olympics could bring some positive effects too. First, showing skateboarding in the Olympics could help spread the culture to whole new areas and spark the interest of a completely new audience. What could be better than spreading the love for skateboarding to a bigger audience?
”What could be better than spreading the love for skateboarding to a bigger audience?”
Second, this positive visibility will eventually have a ripple effect in which both the skateboard industry and the skaters benefit. We could see more high quality skateparks being built that more people could skate in. Additionally, companies in the skateboard industry would be better off financially. This could even lead to supporting young talented skaters more than before.
Last but not least, the image of skateboarding could get a face lift. The Olympics could show a broader audience that skateboarding is not just about tackling security guards and vandalizing school yards. It’ll show that there are a lot more ways to participate in an active lifestyle without being a part of traditional sports. Skateboarding can and should be seen as a chance to be a part of something bigger and challenge yourself.
Whether this is a good change to skaters, is up to debate.
Skateboarding shows a sense of camaraderie and friendship that transcends age, gender, race or sexual orientation.
The negatives of having skateboarding in the olympics
Sure, one could argue that having skateboarding in the olympics would bring more money into the industry. But the real question is does all that extra money go into skateboarding? When snowboarding first became an Olympic sport, there was a big fear that most of the TV and sponsorship money would go into the pockets contest riders. This would obviously hurt the pros whose paychecks rely on video parts and other types of visibility. The same fear can be seen in the skateboard industry as well. You could end up with a few skaters making millions with visibility in contests while others are left fighting for scraps. Of course, from a sponsor’s perspective it is understandable to put their money where they get the most profit. But how can we make sure that the finances are spread out evenly so that it also supports the culture within the community? Inequality hurts. Even in skateboarding.
Thou shalt not divide
Skateboarding lives by inclusion. It shows a sense of camaraderie and friendship that transcends age, gender, race or sexual orientation. It is a community of misfits that is brought together by their shared passion of skateboarding. And, trying to explain this to someone who is not part of it is next to impossible. But for those who live by it, will understand it immediately. Therefore, even the whole idea of going face-to-face against one another in competition seems counterintuitive. A better way to show the true face of our culture would be to bring everyone into a jam session and let skaters dish it out together! You’d see friendly faces hyping up each other and getting excited over every landed trick. If anything, this would be a breath of fresh air to the Olympics.
”As much positive recognition skateboarding gets in the olympics, it may not be a real interpretation of skate culture”.
The Ugly truth
The ugly truth is that having skateboarding in the Olympics could also guide it towards something it is not – an organized sport. There are no coaches, scholarship programs or training routines to follow. It is one of the few ”sports” where you can make a name for yourself without relying on others or trying to get drafted by a team. Actually, the whole skateboard lifestyle has been described as an outlet for anti-sport rebels that steer clear from organized sports altogether.
The idea of skateboarding in the olympics continues to divide opinions. And while there are both pros and cons to it, you can’t deny that the issue is on every skater’s mind. We remain undecided on in which side to be on. Should skateboarding be an Olympic sport or not?
Where do you stand?