Non olymnic rockclimbing

Not an Olympic climbing ...

(translated by A. Trubachev)

Original in Spanish here

Climbing, Competition

Climbing as a non-Olympic sport - thoughts about the future.

Well, talk and rumors buzzing around the world took the form of climbing the audience - all official letters are on the table, and now definitely clear that in the next 10 years, climbing has no chance to become an Olympic sport. The sad fact, however, can now objectively evaluate what is not getting into the sport climbing Olympic medals.

Sport climbing experienced the new birth in the last few years ... Recent spring competitions in Spain underwent an enormous gathering of thousands of fans of this sport. There is no doubt that the modern commercial development of rock climbing has given significant impetus to the fact that each time the competition climbing are becoming more spectacular and entertaining. Of course, that will not be climbing Olympic sport - it is a tangible step the development of climbing as a sport, but it is not an obstacle to further development.

In the world there are many sports are extremely popular, but which are not Olympic - every day they are gaining more and more fans - a roller skating, golf, etc. It would therefore be a mistake to assume that the rejection of climbing in the Olympic list of means to stop the development or degradation. However, it is definitely that this fact does not increase funding for local clubs and federations, which could get a huge boost to the development in the case that if climbing was an Olympic sport.

However, in this respect the point of view differed fundamentally, many famous climbers Items not ideology Olympic Committee, expressed a certain joy at the fact that climbing will remain "low profile sport." According to their view, a serious increase in the popularity of rock climbing in recent years, excessively increase the load on the classic climbing areas, which, in turn, resulted in all the consequences associated with the uncontrolled increase in attendance (polluted areas, the negative effect on the environment). In addition, many frightening possibility of excessive commercialization of climbing, as well as the fact that the status of an Olympic sport is always associated with corruption and other vices, to deny the existence of which can only blind person.

Now climbing got a new chance for a smooth development and eliminate the harm caused to the sport a dramatic increase in popularity. The decision of the Olympic Committee, like a bucket of cold water, will help us to see more clearly what is going on with rock climbing, and give aware of the fact that still climbing is not a sport in the fundamental sense of the word.

Many fans climbing share the view that climbing is more than a sport - it's a way of life that you need to understand and treat it with all due respect. One of the main aspects that are important for a positive development of climbing today we see the clever use and careful maintenance of natural areas equipped for rock climbing - this is a very important task, which seriously aggravated recently due to the explosion in popularity of rock climbing and uncontrolled activity classic climbing areas.

What did not become an Olympic climbing - it's not a big trouble. Especially for those who are not going to get grants to develop and sponsor bonuses. If climbing is not left as an Olympic competitive sport, it does not deprive him of the soul and charisma that attracts so many fans climbing. Who knows, maybe our generation climbers were not yet ready for such an eventuality, and maybe - fate would have it so that we just do not see what should have been done before our sport become "famous". Time will tell what will happen with climbing as a sport and a sense of future climbers. And yet - a lot more that should be born and die in climbing that much more needs to be done for its development. A status of "Olympic kind" - was just proud ambition, nothing more.