Pole Dancing to Become Olympic Sport?
The 2012 Olympics just might be the sexiest yet.
A group of pole dancing supporters is petitioning to have the art included in the Olympic games.
The petitioners claim pole dancing has nothing to do with stripping, and that it should be taken for the physically demanding sport that it is.
Pole dancing has become more mainstream in the past few years, much to the delight of men everywhere, as one of the newest ways to get and stay in shape. Pole dancing fitness classes are available almost anywhere, and people are even installing poles in their own homes to stay fit.
Its going to take a lot more than a petition to get pole dancing into the Olympics. A petition will get pole dancing in front of the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board but they will need to adopt a World Anti-Doping Code, amongst other requirements before anyone will be convinced.
You know what? I say, go for it. If ballroom dancing can be an Olympic event, why not pole dancing?
The petitioners can claim it has nothing to do with stripping, but I think this is a bad stance to take. If people hear pole dancing competition, and the competitors are wearing anything other than g-strings and blue sparkly eye shadow, they are going to ask for their money back.
While I think its a good idea, it does bring up a few questions for me. Olympians usually train for their sport since childhood. Are we going to start opening up toddler pole dancing classes? Is it going to be offered as a high school sport, too? How is this going to be judged and scored? Are lucite heels part of the uniform? Can men compete, too? Do you have to bring your own pole? Can you wear grips, like in gymnastics?
No matter. Even if it isn’t based around stripping, it does offer strippers whose pole dancing skills are their only skills, hope that they can maybe one day represent our country in the Olympic games. And who are we to deny strippers that dream? Isn’t the chance to become anything you want to be the American way?
And for those of you not completely convinced of the athleticism it takes to swing around pole, I suggest re-watching the above video.
