Lost Sports of the Olympics | 05 Aug 2024

Source: IE

The Olympic Games have a long-standing tradition of featuring diverse sports, but certain events have been removed over time due to shifts in societal values, sportsmanship, and audience preferences.

5 Sports that are no longer included in the Olympic program are:
- Live Pigeon Shooting (ended in 1900): Competitors killed nearly 300 pigeons, leading to its replacement by clay pigeon shooting.
- Hot Air Ballooning (ended in 1900): Featured distance, altitude, and photography contests.
- Tug-of-War (1900 to 1920): Ended after a controversy at the 1908 London Games over the British team's heavy boots.
- Plunge for Distance (1904-1908): The event required athletes to dive into the pool and coast underwater without moving.
- Running Deer Shooting (1908-1924): Competitors shot at a wooden deer target on a moving cart from 100 metres away.
Olympic Games: The international sporting events, take place every 4 years.
- The Olympics originated in Ancient Greece around 776 BC and the modern games were revived in Athens in 1896.
- Upcoming Events:
  - Summer Olympics 2024: Paris, France
  - Winter Olympics 2026: Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
  - Summer Olympics 2028: Los Angeles, USA
  - Summer Olympics 2032: Brisbane, Australia
- The 2024 Paris Olympics features a total of 32 different sports.