How can you help get Paintball in the Olympic Games? Hint: it's not a petition



So how do we get Paintball in the Olympic Games? The short answer is, at least for the time being, we don't.



Let's just get down to the reality of the situation: the game at every level involves shooting at each other. That in itself means it will be difficult for it to be recognized by the Olympic committee. We have to understand (because we are all involved in the sport and culture) that the view to "outsiders" is that paintball is a wargame first.



We need more real-life and media exposure to "ease" people into the sport of paintball first. Any player can expose more people to the sport. Bring your friends and family to experience the sport first hand. That in itself helps us gain acceptance. They don't need to play on an airball field, in fact, they probably shouldn't if it is their first time playing. Don't abandon them. Play alongside them with a rental or a pump. If they play rec-ball and possibly even see a little of a local airball practice, then that lets them see that paintball isn't a wargame or easy and lets them see that there are players that take it more seriously.



Get your local media to cover paintball in some fashion. It doesn't matter if it is a school newspaper, local paper, local news or local online story. If the coverage is positive and it shows people where they can play locally, then it is worth it.



Paintball videos and paintball live coverage is probably better than ever right now. PbNation has reached millions with their Youtube videos alone. Go Sports is covering events live. If they can work together to help portray paintball as a sport in a public-facing media package then we have a chance. Using video stepping stones like Youtube and GoSports we can even get paintball back on ESPN/2/3/4/5/The Ocho. If we can get viewers, then hopefully we can get paintball on something like the X-Games so we can show the world what our sport is all about.



One of our biggest obstacles is that there is no governing body or unified rule-set currently for the sport of paintball. The PSP/NPPL/NXL/Millennium/WPBO all have conflicting rules. That sets us back as a sport if we want to take it to the next level. The NXL is still evolving their rule-sets, bunkers and format year to year.



Forget the Olympics for a second, the X-Games would ask "What are the rules?" and for the past 30 years there was no single answer to that question. Until we can unify a rule-set for everyone to adopt and agree on, we will never be considered for a spot in a worldwide stage like the Olympics or X-Games.



Here is a snippet of the selection process of new sports for the Olympics from the International Olympic Committee (IOC):



Quote: Once an International Federation (IF) has presented its petition, many rules and regulations control whether the sport will become part of the Olympic Games. The Olympic Charter indicates that to be accepted, a sport must be widely practiced by men in at least 75 countries and on four continents, and by women in no fewer than 40 countries and on three continents. The sport must also increase the ‘‘value and appeal'' of the Olympic Games and retain and reflect its modern traditions.



There are numerous other rules, including bans on purely ‘‘mind sports'' and sports dependent on mechanical propulsion. These rules have kept chess, automobile racing, and other recognized sports out of the Olympic Games.



In recent years the IOC has worked to manage the scope of the Olympics by permitting new sports only in conjunction with the simultaneous discontinuation of others. Sports that have already been part of the Games are periodically reviewed to determine whether they should be retained. TheOlympic Program Commission notes that problems have arisen when trying to find venues to accommodate some sports' specific needs, such as baseball and softball, which will be discontinued from Olympic programming starting with the London Games in 2012. When choosing sports to include in the program the IOC must take into consideration media and public interest, since these are a key drive behind the Olympic Games, but must simultaneously manage costs.



Paintball needs an International Federation (IF)

We can't even get past the first four words without realizing paintball is missing something big. So, what is an IF?



Quote: The International Sports Federations (IFs) are responsible for the integrity of their sport on the international level.



The International Sports Federations are international non-governmental organisations recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as administering one or more sports at world level. The national federations administering those sports are affiliated to them. While conserving their independence and autonomy in the administration of their sports, International Sports Federations seeking IOC recognition must ensure that their statutes, practice and activities conform with the Olympic Charter.



The IFs have the responsibility and duty to manage and to monitor the everyday running of the world's various sports disciplines, including for those on the programme, the practical organisation of events during the Games. The IFs must also supervise the development of athletes practising these sports at every level. Each IF governs its sport at world level and ensures its promotion and development. They monitor the everyday administration of their sports and guarantee the regular organisation of competitions as well as respect for the rules of fair play.

Minimum number of countries participating

Does anyone have any data on how many countries currently play paintball? We need a minimum of 75 countries on four different continents. And we'd need women players in no fewer than 40 countries and on three continents.





"Sports dependent on mechanical propulsion"

If cars aren't allowed, paintball markers could also be outlawed. However, since there are shooting events already, one solution I personally could see would be Olympic issued markers (which would mean everyone has the same gun) like in the air-rifle events. Not to mention, we use electronic markers to assist players. Not many Olympic sports allow electronics.





"Public Interest"

How many people outside of the current player base would go watch paintball over volleyball, swimming or diving? The answer is a very, very small amount. Other sports are universally understood and easy to follow. Paintball in it's current tournament state is very difficult for an outsider to grasp the concept, rules and scoring.



Growing the popularity and acceptance of our sport is largely in our own hands, we as a community need to expose the sport to as many people as possible in a positive light. Providing inviting and non-threatening options like Low Impact and 50-cal to help ease players into the sport with significantly less pain. Get new groups out to play regularly. That means you. Work with your local fields and get people out to play.



There's lots more you can do as an experienced player. It's difficult for a player to transition from a rental to a tournament player. Let new players shoot your equipment. Invite up and coming players to mix in with your squad to get field time. Give them advice and help build them up into competitive players. Donate your time to charity events, hold clinics to help players grow, and always interact with rentals at your local fields in positive manner.



At the end of the day until we change the way we conduct ourselves both on and off the field, we will never grow to the level where we deserve to be on a world-wide stage. The short answer is, at least for the time being, we don't.Let's just get down to the reality of the situation: the game at every level involves shooting at each other. That in itself means it will be difficult for it to be recognized by the Olympic committee. We have to understand (because we are all involved in the sport and culture) that the view to "outsiders" is that paintball is a wargame first.We need more real-life and media exposure to "ease" people into the sport of paintball first. Any player can expose more people to the sport. Bring your friends and family to experience the sport first hand. That in itself helps us gain acceptance. They don't need to play on an airball field, in fact, they probably shouldn't if it is their first time playing. Don't abandon them. Play alongside them with a rental or a pump. If they play rec-ball and possibly even see a little of a local airball practice, then that lets them see that paintball isn't a wargame or easy and lets them see that there are players that take it more seriously.Get your local media to cover paintball in some fashion. It doesn't matter if it is a school newspaper, local paper, local news or local online story. If the coverage is positive and it shows people where they can play locally, then it is worth it.Paintball videos and paintball live coverage is probably better than ever right now. PbNation has reached millions with their Youtube videos alone. Go Sports is covering events live. If they can work together to help portray paintball as a sport in a public-facing media package then we have a chance. Using video stepping stones like Youtube and GoSports we can even get paintball back on ESPN/2/3/4/5/The Ocho. If we can get viewers, then hopefully we can get paintball on something like the X-Games so we can show the world what our sport is all about.One of our biggest obstacles is that there is no governing body or unified rule-set currently for the sport of paintball. The PSP/NPPL/NXL/Millennium/WPBO all have conflicting rules. That sets us back as a sport if we want to take it to the next level. The NXL is still evolving their rule-sets, bunkers and format year to year.Forget the Olympics for a second, the X-Games would ask "What are the rules?" and for the past 30 years there was no single answer to that question. Until we can unify a rule-set for everyone to adopt and agree on, we will never be considered for a spot in a worldwide stage like the Olympics or X-Games.Here is a snippet of the selection process of new sports for the Olympics from the International Olympic Committee (IOC):The main take-aways from the IOC's Selection Process statement are:We can't even get past the first four words without realizing paintball is missing something big. So, what is an IF?Does anyone have any data on how many countries currently play paintball? We need a minimum of 75 countries on four different continents. And we'd need women players in no fewer than 40 countries and on three continents.If cars aren't allowed, paintball markers could also be outlawed. However, since there are shooting events already, one solution I personally could see would be Olympic issued markers (which would mean everyone has the same gun) like in the air-rifle events. Not to mention, we use electronic markers to assist players. Not many Olympic sports allow electronics.How many people outside of the current player base would go watch paintball over volleyball, swimming or diving? The answer is a very, very small amount. Other sports are universally understood and easy to follow. Paintball in it's current tournament state is very difficult for an outsider to grasp the concept, rules and scoring.Growing the popularity and acceptance of our sport is largely in our own hands, we as a community need to expose the sport to as many people as possible in a positive light. Providing inviting and non-threatening options like Low Impact and 50-cal to help ease players into the sport with significantly less pain. Get new groups out to play regularly. That means you. Work with your local fields and get people out to play.There's lots more you can do as an experienced player. It's difficult for a player to transition from a rental to a tournament player. Let new players shoot your equipment. Invite up and coming players to mix in with your squad to get field time. Give them advice and help build them up into competitive players. Donate your time to charity events, hold clinics to help players grow, and always interact with rentals at your local fields in positive manner.At the end of the day until we change the way we conduct ourselves both on and off the field, we will never grow to the level where we deserve to be on a world-wide stage.

Boston Paintball Supply

Employee/Slave

http://www.bostonpaintball.com | http://www.thenepl.com | http://www.committedpaintball.com

__________________ Last edited by TeeTwo : 08-17-2016 at 07:20 PM . Reason: Co-written by John. You're welcome Anthony.