If ping pong is in the Olympics, why aren't these games?

Question

Could you please explain why each of these should not be in the olympics?

Pool

Table hockey

Foosball (Table soccer)

Darts

For that matter, why isn't there a traditional archery event?

It astounds me that Baseball and softball are getting the boot and ping pong isn't. They say the USA dominates baseball, but we won the bronze in this round... hmmm... Look at pingpong though, China won all the golds in it and almost always does.

Answer 1

Those aren't really as athletic as table tennis.  If you really watch table tennis and examine the players, they have skills!!  They have such amazing eye-hand coordination that is not found in games like foosball.  Plus, table tennis is more widely popular than pool, air hockey, etc.

Archery is an event, by the way.

Answer 2

Cuz ping pong > all of those.

Answer 3

Archery IS an olympic event, dipweed. Ping Pong is more widely played than you think it is. Probably more than baseball. Did you notice the girls of Chinese descent that represented the USA in Ping Pong this year?

Now darts in the olympics does sound interesting, except that it must be played AFTER the contestants have each downed a couple of pints.

Answer 4

Reasons for any sports to be included in the Olympics depends on the votes participated around the globe. Generally, if many countries participate in that sports, it will be included AKA popular sports.

Answer 5

Those games are not considered "athletic"  enough to be counted as an Olympic event. I guess they want people to stick to a sport that requires 4 years of training for.  

Answer 6

It has to be athletic sports to be included, table tennis is but Pool or darts etc aren't.

It will need to have certain numbers of countries supported the bid to be included, and in this case, many european countries supported ping pong as that is where it is originated, and still very popular, China just happened to develop the dominance in this over years. And there are enough interests for USA to support this event too (maybe you don't like it but Forrest Grump does)

Baseball and Softball get the boot as several national teams pulled out due to lack of interests. Also for several consideration, as these games need to have a special venue to host them, so they need to consider the expense and whether or not it attracts enough attention. After all it doesn't make sense if the host nation has to spend millions to build a baseball arena and only 10% of 3 countries are watching, and the arena it builds is not going to be used nor converted

I seriously hope that you actually concern about the future of these sports, and not just feeling 'sour grapes' by the gold medals count's result (I have read some Americans suggested Diving should be out). Perhaps you can do something to promote the interests in table tennis in USA and Baseball and Baseball, American football in other countries.  That is what the Olympic Committee wants anyway

There are more support for Ping Pong (table tennis) gets than golf and cricket.

Answer 7

They even had trampolining as an Olympic event.