Seven Sports for 2016 Olympics: Roller Sports

Seven sports are campaigning to join the Olympic program for the 2016 Games, each presenting their case next week to the IOC Executive Board in Lausanne.

Baseball, golf, karate, roller sports, rugby, softball and squash are the candidates.

In this installment of our series on each of the sports, International Roller Sports Federation (FIRS) President Sabatino Aracu talks about roller sports and the Olympics.

Why is the time right for roller sports to join the Olympics?

Sabatino Aracu: The Olympics need to regain the attention of young audiences and roller skating, in all its disciplines, is able to fascinate and encourage exactly this kind of target. The combination would be perfect.

Why are the Olympics important for roller sports?

SA: In the first place and certainly for our athletes, the Olympic medal is a dream that already alone justifies our full commitment in the campaign for inclusion in the Olympic program. In addition, roller sports are very practiced and followed all over the world, but entrance at the Olympics would give us the visibility we need to continue the campaign to promote our sport even in areas where we are less present, opening a great potential.

What is the contribution speed roller sports makes to the Olympic Games?

SA: From an athletic point of view, it's important to remember that roller sports have a strong tradition in countries such as Belgium, Colombia, New Zealand, Argentina and China Taipei and entering the Olympic program would allow these nations to have more chances to win medals. Then, roller sports offer pure performance: it is like seeing an athletics race at the speed of the bicycle. And that is why it is so exciting for the younger ones.

What is your unique selling point over your rivals?

SA: We have many strengths. It is a fresh and dynamic sport, practiced equally by men and women and spread in all five continents. We have the power of the objective result guaranteed by photo finish. It is a simple sport to learn and practice: we do not need exorbitant structures that are transformed into cathedrals in the desert at the end of the Games. It is a clean sport, as evidenced by the numerous anti-doping tests carried out. As you can see, it is difficult to choose a single point of strength.

What has the campaign been like?

SA: We believe it has been properly executed by all involved parties. And, above all, we are happy to have had the opportunity to show to the members of the IOC the unique points of our sport and to discuss with them the potential.

Are you planning to ramp up your campaigning in the time leading up to the Berlin Executive Board meeting in August, and if so, what can we expect?

SA: In reality, we do not need to plan the campaign in view of Berlin: our sport has the advantage of being simple and appealing in itself. This allows us to be always ready.

What have you done to make roller sports interesting and suitable for the Olympics?

SA: Our sports are fully qualified to enter the Olympic program. We touched only to show it to the IOC members.

Have you done enough to coherently explain speed roller skating to IOC members; and how important is the World Games in Kaohsiung in July to furthering this goal?

SA: We believe we have created very clear promotional videos. We have tried to show how our sport is effective in involving younger people... and more. The World Games will be another important showcase for roller sports.

Do you think FIRS low national federation membership is a problem for roller sports getting onto the Olympic program?

SA: We don’t believe it could be a problem, because we are proud to be a federation continually expanding throughout the world. Think that, living only with our resources, we have achieved at the last Roller Speed Skating World Championships the participation of 550 athletes from 57 countries with 14 different countries medaling. We are also convinced that if we become an Olympic sport, the number of federations would grow quickly.

How confident are you and do you think your chances have improved in recent months?

SA: We are sure that we have done a good job and we are certain that at the meeting in Lausanne, IOC members will be fascinated by our world.

With reporting from Mark Bisson.For general comments or questions, click here