Why isn't American football an olympic sport?

Question

I understand that outside US that it has a bit of a following. Examples being CFL ( Canadian Football League) and NFL Europe ( folded last year but had exsisted for 15 years prior, originally as World League of American football.

Answer 1

It's just not very popular.  The NFL Europe league folded because it was a MAJOR loss - they lost 30million dollars every year!  It just wasn't very popular.  It wasn't even running all 15 years - it took several hiatus due to lack of popularity.

And Canadian football is actually rather different than American.  It's about as close as your going to get, but other than Canada, no other countries really play it.

Frankly, Rugby has a much better chance.  It's internationally played (The UK, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Argentina, Canada, S. Africa all have significant followings) and it's applied several times (lost out to Karate and Squash last bid).

Football just isn't played outside America.

Answer 2

It has nowhere near enough international support.

Even Rugby, which has 91 Affiliated countries and its own World Cup which is usually the biggest sport event of the year when it is held isn't classified as a "World sport."

Answer 3

Not unless the IOC is willing to expand the games... with only two weeks... Gridiron footy wont have enough time to finish. A 16 team Group phase match with four contenders  into Groups A B C and D will take an extra 4-5-6 weeks all to eliminate but two gold medal finalists(Japan v.USA) plus the Bronze Final.

I Say Gridiron footy has a 85% chance of being a sport for the olympics. it is estimated that more countries will play this sport. im guessing by 2009. the IFAF will have near 60 nation members. if we all start calling american football as Gridiron football or simply Gridiron we'll have a higher chance. Jacques Rogge hasnt excluded the participation of the sport.

"Olympia is not a closed society, the doors are still open for non olympic sports" - Jacques Rogge

btw why take softball away? take table tennis since that game is also one nation dominated(China) and also cut out equestrian!!!   the olympics should be about minority sports as well as majority!

Answer 4

The key is American football. Baseball and Basketball are played around the world. American football is primarily only played in the USA and Canada. No other countries have players, coaches, or the know how to actually play football. Now, explain to me why Rugby is not an Olympic sport? That's about as close to American football as you are going to get, but is played by multiple countries.

Answer 5

It used to be there but only for a demonstartion sport http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonstrati...

Also no americans would participate since by the times roll around most of the players are in training camp and trying to place players into the season. Also no one wants to lose a player to injury.

I always thought the same. I want to see peyton manning throw a TD defeating some country :P

I argee with everyone that rugby should be in there

Answer 6

Not much ppl play asides from US an Canada, + its not too much competition.  Thats why they are removing softball from the olympics - americans have always won, and beaten opponents by a long run.  

Answer 7

because its an American sport...only a few countries play it

Answer 8

I saw American football team is in the olympic?????

Answer 9

"I understand that outside US that it has a bit of a following."

you answered the first part of your own question.

key word being "bit"

just because 2 countries play it hardly make it an olympic sport.

It needs to be played by at least 50% of the world to be an olympic sport.

the other reason is that if it were an olympic sport, The blowouts the Dream team gave other countries back in 92' would  look like nailbitters compared to the BRUTAL UGLY ANNIHILATION'S that the US would give to other countries.

I imagine we'd beat every other country by no less than 80 points.

I wish it were an olympic sport too. But It's just too complicated for other countries to pick up now.

Answer 10

It's not very popular on a variety of levels.  Even baseball is getting cut next Olympics.

One reason is due to game time.  If you watch most of the events, you will see that a lot of the events are extremely quick, and events that pit two teams or two individual competitors against each other in a bracket format end in around half an hour or less.  This includes fencing, badminton, table tennis, and archery.  I generally consider tennis to be extremely fast, but even it is extremely slow compared to the average event, as match times range from around one and a half hours to two and a half hours.  A baseball or American football match that lasts around three and a half hours on average will not be popular internationally.

Answer 11

what the heck is american football? i have never heard of it! who in the blue h**l plays such a dorky thing?

Answer 12

It isn't feasible because football is played once a week and the Olympics only last 16 days so there wouldn't be enough time for a full tournament.