Olympic Sanda - Why was it never proposed?
In December 2001 when IWUF submitted its official application for Wushu to be included in the 2008 Olympic Games; only Taolu was included. The proposal was made by the Technical Committee and the Executive Board (EB) was advised. As a member of the IWUF EB at the time, I and others voiced our concern that Sanda had not been included.
There were several reasons for only Taolu being included. One was the belief that a combat sport might be more difficult to introduce, given there were already sports like Boxing, Wrestling and Tae Kwon Do. It was felt that Taolu was more representative of the key characteristics of Wushu, and was more evenly developed on a gender-basis across all continents. In addition, it was exciting to watch across a wide audience demographic.
The reason I am raising this an an issue, is two-fold:
Firstly, that the IWUF has never reviewed its Olympic Taolu-Sanda policy in 14 years. This is particularly relevant when the WKF is currently trying to get the Combat Sport of Karate included as an additional sport in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The fact that Wrestling was reinstated as an Olympic Sport in 2013 also demonstrates that the IOC is not necessarily opposed to the inclusion of more Combat Sports.
Secondly, myself and other IWUF EB members have in the past had discussions with Senior IOC Officials; in my case a Senior IOC Official involved with recommending new sports for the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008.
Leading up to the Beijing 2008 Olympics, I sat beside the IOC Official at a special demonstration organised by IWUF to showcase the proposed Olympic Taolu routines. After the Taolu demonstration there was a demonstration of Men's and Women's Sanda.
At the end of the demonstrations, the IOC Official turned to me and said: 'Why do we have Tae Kwon Do in the Olympics when we could have Sanda'? Clearly he was most impressed with Sanda. This begs the question as to whether IWUF made an error of judgement back in 2001 in its decision to only include Taolu as an Olympic Sport, or whether in the last 14 years it should have reviewed the possible inclusion of Sanda?
Plus, did IWUF ever consult with its members over the Olympic Taolu-Sanda issue and how well has this been communicated to members? I recently talked to two IWUF members, who after 14 years, had no idea that Sanda wasn't included in our Olympic bid! One might ask what the role of the IWUF Marketing and Development Committee has been, or should be, in informing members about such important matters?
Taolu Routines Proposed for Olympic Wushu:
1. Men's Long-Fist, Broadsword, Staff (Combined)
2. Men's Taiji-Fist and Taiji Sword
3. Women's Long-Fist, Sword and Spear (Combined)
4. Women's Taiji-Fist and Taiji Sword
There were several reasons for only Taolu being included. One was the belief that a combat sport might be more difficult to introduce, given there were already sports like Boxing, Wrestling and Tae Kwon Do. It was felt that Taolu was more representative of the key characteristics of Wushu, and was more evenly developed on a gender-basis across all continents. In addition, it was exciting to watch across a wide audience demographic.
The reason I am raising this an an issue, is two-fold:
Firstly, that the IWUF has never reviewed its Olympic Taolu-Sanda policy in 14 years. This is particularly relevant when the WKF is currently trying to get the Combat Sport of Karate included as an additional sport in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The fact that Wrestling was reinstated as an Olympic Sport in 2013 also demonstrates that the IOC is not necessarily opposed to the inclusion of more Combat Sports.
Secondly, myself and other IWUF EB members have in the past had discussions with Senior IOC Officials; in my case a Senior IOC Official involved with recommending new sports for the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing in 2008.
Leading up to the Beijing 2008 Olympics, I sat beside the IOC Official at a special demonstration organised by IWUF to showcase the proposed Olympic Taolu routines. After the Taolu demonstration there was a demonstration of Men's and Women's Sanda.
At the end of the demonstrations, the IOC Official turned to me and said: 'Why do we have Tae Kwon Do in the Olympics when we could have Sanda'? Clearly he was most impressed with Sanda. This begs the question as to whether IWUF made an error of judgement back in 2001 in its decision to only include Taolu as an Olympic Sport, or whether in the last 14 years it should have reviewed the possible inclusion of Sanda?
Plus, did IWUF ever consult with its members over the Olympic Taolu-Sanda issue and how well has this been communicated to members? I recently talked to two IWUF members, who after 14 years, had no idea that Sanda wasn't included in our Olympic bid! One might ask what the role of the IWUF Marketing and Development Committee has been, or should be, in informing members about such important matters?
Taolu Routines Proposed for Olympic Wushu:
1. Men's Long-Fist, Broadsword, Staff (Combined)
2. Men's Taiji-Fist and Taiji Sword
3. Women's Long-Fist, Sword and Spear (Combined)
4. Women's Taiji-Fist and Taiji Sword