News that there is a campaign to make “Pole Dancing” an Olympic sport was met was some sexual innuendo and a bit of nudge nudge wink wink on social media but I am not buying into that. I believe it would make a better sport than some being championed for inclusion.
This kind of pole dancing is miles away from the sexy outfits, high heels or wiggle your boobs this kind of sports dancing has developed hugely or the years and would in my belief fit in nicely into the gymnastics set up at the games.
Each year, the International Olympic Committee receives a list of applications for new sports vying for a place in the games, with karate, surfing, baseball, and softball among the bidders for the Tokyo Games in 2020.
Pole dancing are the new kid on the block looking to join the Olympic family and gaining media attention with its image of sequins and strip bars like Stringfellows and such clubs. This is not about diamante-studded hot pants, push up bras, big breasts and 6 inch stilettos The International Pole Sports Federation [IPSF], which was founded in 2009, has long battled for pole dancing to be accepted as a sport in its own right.
If you happened to be at Crystal Palace Sports Centre to witness the fifth annual Pole Sports Championships last month, you’d know why. This annual competition attracts some 150 competitors from over 30 countries, battling it out for the title in front of a demanding panel of judges. And it’s most definitely not just one for the girls with five official categories – Men, Women, Doubles, Masters (40+ and 50+) and Youth (10-14 and 15-17).
The competitors perform bare foot and wouldn’t look amiss at a gymnastics competition – in fact, PVC, leather and rubber are all banned (even glitter overkill is frowned upon). just as demanding as any other sport with participants performing to a set piece of music – like ice skating and floor gymnastics – and scored on a number of technical and creative points.
Requiring an artful combination of exceptional physical strength, flexibility and coordination, Pole Fitness is becoming an increasingly popular form of exercise, and regional competitions are springing up worldwide.
Pole dancing may not yet have earned the status of a sport but it has moved a long way from the strip club in a remarkably short time – the odds on it achieving Olympic status are also shortening. The Federation also has plans to introduce a Paralympic category in next year’s Championships.
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