Michael Johnson says ‘It’s time to simplify athletics – get rid of events that people don’t watch’

run by nature wrote:

What events would get rid of, if any?

What events was he get rid of?

If anything Track should add more events. Everyone loves swimming at the Olympics, and they have three or four variations of every type of stroke for every distance. If someone starts winning a bazillion medals people will start to care, which is ironic since the competition will just be watered down.

Fify

Bad Wigins wrote:

And here is the common sense revised athletics program:

track:

100m

400m

800m

4x100m

4x400m

high jump

Okeydokey wrote:

Add half marathon.

Hahahahaha!

Awsi Dooger wrote:

run by nature wrote:

What events would get rid of, if any?

What events was he get rid of?

Sounds like Rory McIlroy last year before the Olympics, saying he would only watch "the sports that matter."

This year at the Players Championship I followed Rory during one round. When he screwed up one hole I said loudly at greenside, "Bogeys matter."

Only a few people caught it but Rory was one of them. He glared at me for several seconds while walking back toward his caddie. I stared smack at him.

You're a real tough guy. eh?

They need to scrap the throws and jumps and replace them with multithrow and multijump

Bad Wigins wrote:

no moronic misinterpretations of ancient greek events.

Footraces

Chariots

Discus

Javelin

Archery

Pankration (wrestling & boxing)

50 meter sprint

200 meter sprint

mile-as many entrants who can fit on track-no heats

steeplechase-as many entrants who can fit on track-ho heats

4x100

javalin

long jump

pole vault

The Ultimate Olympics

100m

400m

800m

1500m

5000m

110mH

400mH

3000mSC

Long Jump

High Jump

Pole Vault

Hammer

Discus

Shot Put

4 x 100m

4 x 400m

Marathon

If I have to choose, I would drop decathlon and heptathlon. Low-quality performances (predominantly) compared to event specialists, and time-consuming. Walking could go too, too technical and boring for most people. Medal ceremonies breaks often the momentum.

Does there have to be so many championships overall? European championships were held every 4th year, now every other year we have EC´s weeks before Olympics, so many top Europeans are missing when focus is in the Olympics. Although the level of European distance running could even worsen if we go back to EC´s every 4th year.

Giving myself a limit of ten events -

100

400

1000

5000

Marathon

4x200

3000 SC

Long Jump

High Jump

Javelin

some good points UNO

Bad Wigins wrote:

And here is the common sense revised athletics program:

track:

100m

200m

400m

800m

1600m

3200m

4x100m

4x400m

field:

long jump

high jump

spear throw

football throw

No hurdles, no relics of Napoleonic warfare, no moronic misinterpretations of ancient greek events. Football throw will generate huge interest since every NFL quarterback will compete in their offseason to be the "arm." I wonder what is the farthest anyone has ever threw a football.

Too many running distances.(could be 200m, 3000m, 10000m)

Outside US nobody is interested in football throw.

First... on television, get rid of the sob stories. and show ONLY events, with in-studio interviews taking place while events are being shown. Between running events, show field events, regardless of who the competitor is.

Second... the 10k is taken to the road. At the collegiate level, no track event over 3k steeple.

Third... At the collegiate level, meets are to become capped at three entries per event at EVERY meet, and no mega-carnivals. Perhaps, even capping team participation to something like six teams. Conference and other post-season meets, are the only exception. This will create the demand for MORE meets to be held, that will be shorter in duration.

Who's Michael Johnson?

Thanks!

jghjjhh wrote:

[quote]Bad Wigins wrote:

And here is the common sense revised athletics program:

track:

100m

200m

400m

800m

1600m

3200m

4x100m

4x400m

field:

long jump

high jump

spear throw

football throw

No hurdles, no relics of Napoleonic warfare, no moronic misinterpretations of ancient greek events. Football throw will generate huge interest since every NFL quarterback will compete in their offseason to be the "arm." I wonder what is the farthest anyone has ever threw a football.

Too many running distances.(could be 200m, 3000m, 10000m)

Outside US nobody is interested in football throw.[/quote

Limit the throws and jumps to one attempt per competitor. For the PV and HJ one attempt per height. Runners only get one attempt at their respective events.

kd wrote:

The Ultimate Olympics

100m

400m

800m

1500m

5000m

110mH

400mH

3000mSC

Long Jump

High Jump

Pole Vault

Hammer

Discus

Shot Put

4 x 100m

4 x 400m

Marathon

Take out hammer and this is pretty good.

boltaldo wrote:

]Replace decathlon wih bad ass obstacle course.

Funny you mention this - European Athletics' new format for a short team competition will have a 5 minute "mini-athlon" along these lines.

Of course in the winter we need a LONG badass obstacle course as part of the World XC...

I've been posting this for years. My olympics:

100

400

1500

10,000

Long Jump

High Jump

Shot Put

Javelin

I'm getting rid of:

200, 800, and 5000 because they're intermediate distances that water down more specialized distances

All hurdles because who cares how fast you are whilst jump over things?

Pole vault, because who cares how high you can spring yourself with a big stick?

Triple jump, because who cares how far you can jump after having already jumped twice.

Relays because they're dumb.

Multi-events because its people mediocre at a lot of things. Who cares?

Hammer and discuss because how many objects do obese people need to throw?

I don't acknowledge race-walking exists.

I consider the marathon the most olympic of all olympic pursuits, and an entity unto itself, separate from track and field.