InlineHockey @ the Olympics

**Aussies** · 08-07-2002, 09:22 PM

Greetings from Australia.
Our son is a junior elite inline hockey player here in Australia at U 14 level. He represents his state and hopes soon to represent his country.
His sights are firmly set on representing Australia in inline hockey at Olympics or Commonwealth Games. Can you please tell me what the likelyhood of inline hockey being included in these games within the next few years.
It is hard to get accurate information down here.
When I ask, I have been told lots of rumors, like inline hockey was going to be an exhibition sport at Sydney 2000/ Manchester Commonwealth Games 2002/ Athens Olympics 2004. etc. It wasn't in Sydney, Manchester has just finished and it wasn?t there. What about Athens? Any truth in that rumor?
Is there anyone out there who really knows what is going on in regards to our sport reaching the Olympics and Commonwealth games?
Do you know which governing body will be running it when it happens? Currently in Australia, both RSA (which I think is FIRS)
and AILHA (IIHF) claim that they will be the organization to take inline to the Olympics etc.
It is very confusing, and we don't know what to believe.
As a family we are supporting our son in these goals. There is no financial support for junior athletes financially here in Australia, so we are both working full time to fund his interstate trips for nationals of both organizations, and tournaments, and elite training camps etc. We want to make sure we are headed down the right track with the input of all our time energy and money.
Any information you could give us would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Grahame and Michelle GibsonEdited by RichardGraham on 08/07/02 10:43 PM.

**barclay99** · 08-07-2002, 09:51 PM

Although I do not know of these rumors as being true. I can give you my opinion on inline in the olympics. Bottom line, not enough countries to have competition. USA, Canada, France, Czech, Australia are the only countries that I feel know the game well enough to compete in a class like the olympics. I say start small. Goodwill games, junior olympics, demonstartion in 2004 would be ideal. Then once the competitions ready in say 2012 the sport should go olympic bound. However, before that a singular governing body and a legit pro league with all the best talent in one league. If USARS, NARCh, USA Inline, THORS ect. can get there act together as a unit for the sport the olympics are a possibility in 2008 but thats pushing it. It's going to start with the bantams and lower, thats the future.

Edited by RichardGraham on 08/07/02 10:44 PM.

**calihockey** · 08-08-2002, 01:18 AM

Finland has a some championships in their pocket and Sweden is coming a long too. Australia is still a few years off as is England, but i can honestly see a good field of 10 teams or so that would make the olympics fun. Not every team has be good. Look at the winter olympics. its whoever has the most nhl players wins. Honestly Belarus got lucky to get into the medal round and they were quickly crushed by a true power team. who cares if the scores are lopsided at first. the olympics is a great step forward for the sport. how fair do you think it was when baseball first became a sport at the games? baseball is a big part of america. doubleday field is in new york. now look how much the sport has grown on the international level. as far as the rumors go, i have heard that Athens is out, they are done adding sports for 2004. Bejing i believe has 2008 and that is probably a better chance. Dont forget the PanAm's have roller hockey. Maybe we should learn from the mistakes we as a sport made before. Baby steps may be the right thing for right now. Needs to be proven to be a sport and not a fad.

Edited by RichardGraham on 08/07/02 10:44 PM.

**TimeKeeper_CYMRU** · 08-08-2002, 03:56 AM

>Greetings from Australia.
Greetings from Wales, United Kingdom.

> Our son is a junior elite inline hockey player here in
> Australia at U 14 level. He represents his state and
> hopes soon to represent his country.
Our daughter currently plays U18 at local league level, and referees at UK national level, and has played for Great Britain.

> His sights are firmly set on representing Australia in
> inline hockey at Olympics or Commonwealth Games.
> Can you please tell me what the likelyhood of inline
> hockey being included in these games within the
> next few years.
> It is hard to get accurate information down here.
Likewise here in the United Kingdom

> When I ask, I have been told lots of rumors, like inline
> hockey was going to be an exhibition sport at Sydney
> 2000/ Manchester Commonwealth Games 2002/
> Athens Olympics 2004. etc. It wasn't in Sydney,
> Manchester has just finished and it wasn?t there.
Aha, The Commonwealth Games (70+ former and current UK dominions and dependencies), held: Manchester, UK. As a fringe activity there was also ?The Spirit of Friendship Festival? and there was indeed an Inline Puck Hockey Tournament included in the SoFF! Reports on this event are difficult to get hold of (see: www.NIHL.co.uk)

> What about Athens? Any truth in that rumor?
> Is there anyone out there who really knows what is
> going on in regards to our sport reaching the Olympics
> and Commonwealth games?
See the FIRS website (www.rollersports.org) move to ?Topics?, then ?General?, then highlight the following news items:
Monday, April 30 @ 09:53:58
Tuesday, March 12 @ 11:39:00 EST
Wednesday, February 27 @ 11:01:10 EST,
There are no doubt other posting I have missed! You may then draw your own conclusions.

> Do you know which governing body will be running it
> when it happens? Currently in Australia, both RSA
> (which I think is FIRS) and AILHA (IIHF) claim that they
> will be the organization to take inline to the Olympics etc.
The FIRS website shows they are in discussion with the IOC.
However, the IIHF website?s In-line (www.iihf.com/inline.htm) news page is less forthcoming.

> It is very confusing, and we don't know what to believe.
Agreed.

> As a family we are supporting our son in these goals.
> There is no financial support for junior athletes financially
> here in Australia, so we are both working full time to fund
> his interstate trips for nationals of both organizations, and
> tournaments, and elite training camps etc. We want to
> make sure we are headed down the right track with the
> input of all our time energy and money.
> Any information you could give us would be greatly
> appreciated. Thank you.
Watch this space?
Watch the FIRS website: www.rollersports.org
Links from: www.olympic.org lead back to FIRS, so the Olympic site might be worth the occasional visit.

> Grahame and Michelle Gibson
John, Wales, UK

**barclay99** · 08-08-2002, 10:10 AM

Thats very true. I also remembered Switzerland being a contender after sitting down and watching rocket dreams for the 1st time. Those brits have some talent dont count them out yet. Good point you brought up with the olympics. I didn't think of it at the time that not all the teams have 2 contend hey even the aussies won a gold!

**NLane** · 08-08-2002, 10:32 AM

I remember in 1992 or 1993 some of the skaters that were part of the Haygood Sharks (in VA Beach, VA and also skaters from Franklin, VA) were asked to the Olympic training Center in Colorado for hard ball hockey tryout camps. They were skating Junior Olympic Nationals not associated with the AAU. This was the same organization that is aligned with FIRS now. I think inline hockey was also an exhibition sport in a Summer Olympic games shortly after that. I don't know why it went away.

**Marquee** · 08-09-2002, 06:21 PM

Do you know that the IIHF also organises a World Cup(much better organised and consisting of,in my opinion,more and better teams than the FIRS)I reckon Sweden,Finland,Germany,
Slovakia,plus the teams you mentioned(excluding Australia)
know the game enough to be in the olympics .
Switzerland,Austria,Italy and Slovenia could round up a 12 team tournament.

**RichardGraham** · 08-13-2002, 11:34 PM

Hi Grahame and Michelle,

I am trying to get responses to your questions from the powers that be, and I'll post them here once I do.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

**goblue22** · 08-21-2002, 01:42 AM

It's not as simple as all that. Sure, FIRS had fewer teams this year. Why? A lot of it is logistics. The past 3 FIRS championships have been in Spain, France, and Switzerland, respectively. This year, they were in the U.S. Governing bodies do not have tons of spare cash to throw around. Given the choice between traveling to Germany (IIHF) and traveling to the U.S. (FIRS), which one do you think most European countries chose? (This is speaking only of cost, to say nothing of the increased difficulty of getting into the U.S.)

FIRS has both the Olympic and Pan Am charters (inline hockey is already in the Pan Ams). So if you had one event on the global scale, you would have participation by all the leading teams (Canada, U.S., Switzerland, Czech, Sweden, Finland et al)

Right now, given the duplication of world championships, most countries went with the more convenient.