by Larry Eder
AUCKLAND (NZL):
Radio.co.nz informs that double Olympic shot put champion and world female athlete of the year Valerie Adams has added her concern to the prospect of the sport being dropped form the Olympics.Following the IOC’s plan to review at events in the games, an Australian athletics official has reportedly suggested that if athletics had to be trimmed, events such as shot put, the 10,000 metres and the triple-jump could be under threat.
“It would be such a shame to see the rich tradition of shot put excluded in the future especially for our young talent coming through here in New Zealand,” she said. Shot put is part of the Olympic tradition says double Olympic gold medallist Valerie Adams.
(Editor’s note: The IOC is serious about dropping events and seems to be putting much pressure on the IAAF to consider events to take from the Olympic schedule. They are discussing the 10,000m, the 200 meters, the shot put, a Race Walk (probably the 20,0000m) and the triple jump. This is all so they can move in a new hipper sport, something that will entrance sports fans around the world (perhaps walleye fishing?).
Watch this fiasco play itself out. Dick Pound, the poster child of sound bytes, tried out the triple jump the other day as one of the events to leave the Olympic schedule. Quite sad.)
