Really John? You wouldn't watch people pole dance for a free car? You're a moron. More free cars for the rest of us I guess.

Wow, there are a whole bunch of ignorant, oblivious people making comments about Pole Fitness, which they clearly know nothing about. It originated with Chinese Pole and not in Strip Clubs. Pole Dancers are not all Strippers. Pole Fitness requires incredible strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and stamina. It's is harder than gymnatistcs and dance since it combines both elements. The reason Pole Fitness Dancers wear short shorts and small tops is not to turn men on, its so they can stick to the pole. The skin is what keeps a pole dancer from falling. Its not exploiting women and its perfectly fine for children to see. I'm a Homemaker who does Pole Fitness. I'm not a stripper and I'm not a whore. There is nothing rude or dirty about how i dance. We not asking to let naked stripping into the olympics. Do some research people!

WOW , this world is finally coming to an end . This is a sport? Pole swinging all these coming from the strip club and want to endorse as a sport . I dont think so . I wouldnt want to go to show like this for free or wining a free car or anything . Filthy show . Body exploxsure . Some day like this they will say prostitution should be a entertainment on the theatre or a sport.

It should be an Olympic sport. Please, people, stop being so narrow minded about it. Strip clubs do have poles, but in strip clubs, you will rarely see a woman do figures as pole ''fitnessers'' do. (If the video is not enough for you, take a look at Becca Butcher or Jennine Butterfly). It demands a lot of strenght, balance, precision, and with that, it demands to ''dancer'' to be graceful. Try to do that on yur own, just to see ? Being half naked on the pole is NOT to seduce anyone, it's used to ''stick'' to the pole. try to do pole fitness with clothes on? You'll have a hard time because they need their arms, feet, back of the knee, belly, hips and thighs to do some figures. No need to wear high heels to do figures, it's just an accessory, since pole fitness demands to stay on the tip of the toes in order to be graceful and to push ourselves upward.

Someone made the comment that if dance is allowed in the Olympics, let's just bring all dances together then... Rythm gymnastic is what? Yes, dance. Is it part of the Olympics? Yes.

I'm sorry... but golf, horseriding and ping pong... are no sports as pole fitness is. And men can also do it. Might be a little weird, but they can, an many do (see with parkour, what they can do with a light pole, flag pole, etc)

You people are narrow minded at its best.

That is the dumbest thing I have heard in a long time. Pole dancing belongs in strip clubs or the privacy of your home.

Submitted by Mel on
Wed, 2012-08-01 9:20am.
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well said...couldnt say it better myself!!!

no keep it simple...it almost looks like stripping!!!

If pole dancing is allowed I demand that they allow surfing in, TV Chanel Surfing that is.

Oh let's just scratch it all and go back to running, jumping, discus, wrestling, boxing, and horse/chariot races - keeps things simple. Today there are way to many different activities that require high degrees of physical fitness. In all fairness they should all be represented, however that's just not practical. Not sure where the line gets drawn, but I don't think the argument can be made on fitness levels anymore it needs to be based on something else maybe history (events derived from the original group) and world wide cultural significance (meaning pick the top sports from each competing country in terms of popularity in that country, there's going to be over lap) that would arguably be the most logical.

So looking at the Olympics we have horses jumping over poles, we have gymnasts on parallel poles, walking on balance beams, events on single horizontal poles, and jumping over poles in the steeple chase and hurdles so why not a vertical pole. Oh I know it is because the question asks about pole dancing as associated with exotic dancing, how about asking about vertical pole acrobatics or gymnastics. I think then we would not have a problem. I mean why would we discriminate against vertical and embrace horizontal.

Lol - you've got too be joking right. Please tell me this is actually meant as a joke!

First, pole dancing most likely has its origins dating back over 2000 years to a form of Yoga practiced in India and to Chinese pole acrobatics (both of which, incidentally, were primarily done by men). Hell's angels did not invent it, as one poster might be shocked to discover.

Second, if anyone watched that routine and thought that it was an overtly sexual display of her body for the enjoyment of men, well, I think that says a whole lot more about your warped mind than it says about the athlete (and that's what she is). What I saw was an amazing display of strength, flexibility, and grace. I didn't find it titilating in the least.

Third, for the poster who commented that (s)he would prefer the athlete be wearing a full body suit instead.. that wouldn't actually be possible. The holds she is doing require friction between skin and the pole. That would be like asking gymnasts on parallel bars to wear gloves.. they'd slip right off the bars. Just an FYI.

Hear that sound? That's all of the great Olympic champions of years gone by rolling over in their graves!!! What IDIOT thought this up????

Don't care one way or the other but she sure is in good shape to do that. Also I didn't find it suggestive in any way. Nicely done.

I don't think so, either! I don't think ping pong, badminton, dancing, pole or otherwise, belong. If one sort of dancing is introduced, we will then have all sorts of dancing to consider and the Olympics will last six weeks, or more! Let the dancers have their annual danceathons, or whatever! I do think skateboarding should be considered, however, but dancing is not a sport in my mind, though they may well consider themselves sports' athletes.

I see some people are aghast that notion that, as they say ,an activity that started in a strip parlor could be athletic enough to be in the Olympics. I guess they aren't aware that the Olympics started out as a naked activity and many of the wealthy would acquire the athletes sweat or even more intimate encounters. I think it is time for the shock to dissipate and these nay-says should try to run a hundred meters, play a game of beach volleyball or even try a pole dance. I sincerely doubt that many of them would even finish. So how about being inspired by the achievement of these amazing athletes and get off your duff and do some stuff - especially a pole dance just for the fun of it.

You betcha! and while we're at it, let's add races in eating wings, who can hurl up the biggest lugy and why not throw in line dancing as a team sport competition. Can just see it now..........China wins gold for line dancing and all Texans in the U.S. rebel lol.

I'm sure using a pole for fitness purposes ONLY, is difficult and requires great strength, but as an olympic sport? NAWWWW

What's there now has already robbed me of valuable t.v. time, adding more events would put my mind to ruin!! lolol

Wow! What use to be used a sexual explicitly positioning of the body for personal viewing or what use to be called female exploitation, is now being considered a sport for the Olympics. Hmmmm! The Mafia and Hells Angels would be proud. You go Girls.

yeah for sure , and lets add hopscotch too

I thought pole dancing was for strippers until I watched a friend practice and was amazed. I started taking classes myself. It truly is a sport, I mean if golf is considered an Olympic sport where you walk around and tap balls into holes and use a golf cart instead of walking. Golf should NOT be in the Olympics if fat old men can win championships. On an unrelated not pole dance takes incredible strength physically and mentally. It really is beautiful and for the people that say they shouldn't wear bikini's or 2-piece outfits - they have to in order to stick to the pole properly. Even if it doesn't make it to the Olympics, pole dance, pole fitness, vertical dance or whatever you want to call it IS A SPORT! Go try it yourself and then say it's not a sport.

Oh my god .... NO!!! I think things are getting carried away with what should be an olympic sport. I am sorry ..... I still disagree with Ping Pong as an olympic sport!

The olympics have their basis on the marathon run. In the original olympic games this run was performed nude. So even if you allow the pole dancing to be done in skimpy outfits or perhaps in the nude it would not be a first in the Olympics.

you want to add pole dancing(correct me if I'm wrong) with something that originated in strip joints but they remove women's softball from the Olympics. Since the money generated with the Olympics is one reason why countries bid to have the games, I can understand why they would want to add this. MONEY MONEY!!! Look at woman's beach volleyball,same idea but I'm glad a lot of the teams have decided to wear what they think is appropriate to a sport and not a photo shoot for the best body in a bikini

i can see where (from a required agility standpoint) this could be considered. I certainly wouldn't make it an event unto itself - not should it be referred to as "pole dancing"... Perhaps a workout on a pole showing flexibility, agility, etc. could be added to the gymnastics segment of the competitions.

That is the dumbest thing I have heard in a long time. Pole dancing belongs in strip clubs or the privacy of your home.

It is an olympic sport it is called the pole vault

I have a better idea. Re-instate baseball and softball.

I think we have enough categories that demonstrate exactly what this video clip shows us. Between all the gymnastics events we get to see the same strengths and artistry in motion. The introduction of a pole doesnt change anything, vertical bars, horizontal bars, balance beam. Adding a new prop doesnt make it special or unique. And of course there is that seedy connotation that society wont be willing to shake.

No way Should pole Dancing be allowed into the Olympics.

I agree that pole dancing is a sport as it requires physical exercise as well as mental stimulation. However, you can not have one form of dancing without all the other forms of dancing. The olympics already have enough sports covered that they don't need anymore. As it is most events are not shown on TV. You also have to consider the countries sponsoring the individuals. These people live off our tax dollars. I don't want to pay more taxes so the bottom line is: NO to all forms of dancing in the olympics.

Sure. Why not. The routine shown above, agreed, resembles an artistic routine similar to gymnasts. I think it really comes down to the tastefulness of this preformance. If it is not trashy , then it is not a problem. It is doubtful that Olypmic organizers and company would accept anything that was not.

Heck no! This is not a sport, it is not something that should be on television for children to see. I am not a prude nor the opposite, but let's keep some holiness in the world.

acrobatics would be great, but not something that was lustful in its origin.

While it is apparent that pole "fitness" requires a high degree of physical skill the fact that is was born out of pole dancing at strip clubs will ensure that it will never ba able to detatch itself from it's origins. If it ever does make it to the Olymics the participants will never shake the connection. What a joke! If these ladies (cause you will never see a man dancing on a pole unless he swings the other way) really want to be in the olympics then go into as a gymnast. I bet you would find that a pole dancer wouldn't have even half the ability of an olympic gymnast - just not as much skill required I think.

JUst what the Olympics needs.. yet another event that can only be judged on "artistic" merit instead of specific set goals and measurement. Figure skating has been open to abuse by the judging community because of this very thing..

well they have parallel horizontal bars, whats the difference if it's vertical? I've always agreed that anyone capable of moving like that up and down the poles and the pause positions, is considered an athlete in my books, you try it lol

I think we need to wait some time. I understand the skill that is put into it. However, the wrong tagged must be removed. Before we can let it be.
Keep in mind young girls will be watching, do we want them to stay "I want to that." Then find themselves in the wrong place.

I guess there is athletic ability needed here, absolutely not in the Olympics.
Get real here. For one thing consider who would be entering for this - whatever you call it, It cannot be considered a sport. Good exercise for some maybe but entertaining for others to watch in a bar somewhere. Besides we have enough to watch & 2 weeks is enough of the Olympics. But I do watch everything as much as I can & when it is all over I always have Olympic withdrawal. Pole dancing I would not watch. It is not a sport!!!

Great Strippers in the Olympics. Even if they dont win a medal i am sure they can earn some cash in Athlete Village.

Pole Dancing take amazing strength and talent. In my opinion it even takes more strength to perform than uneven bars. I find it comparable to the rings and believe it should be included as an Olympic sport. I've witnessed some amazing women at my gym work on this bar (pole) and I'm in awe. If people think it is "too sexy" they have not been observing the other sports that are presently accepted as Olympic sports.

Yes, yes, yes! It is a very strenous sport and should be treated as such. If gymnatics is an olympic sport, then so should pole fitness be considered.

Judith

No way. The next would be striping. Pole dancing maybe hard to do but it is not a sport.

give it a rest. there is already to many non oylmpic sports. (sycro, volleyball,etc)

More power and poise than most any Olympian.

Yes I absolutely think pole dancing should be part of the olympics, it would fit right in there with gymnastics

What kind of rediculous idea is that ? Might as well have strippers and call that a sport to . Some things are just dance or art forms or in this case a sexual display of ones body .
This and the idea of yoga are just too rediculous to call Olympic sports .
I guss the olympics bring out a lot of crazy and desperate people .

It's not a sport. It barely qualifies as dance.

Sometime long, long after ballet becomes an Olympic sport, maybe. Then again, one can only hope not.

Hell Yes !! WOOOO
Then I'd have a reason to watch the olympics !

Though utterly fascinating to watch what the human body/mind is capable of, no, this is not what I'd consider Olympic material. There is a somewhat sense of the surreal and unnatural about the performance; the music is a distracting feature and I'd prefer to see the "dancer" wear a full body suit rather than a bikini.

Personal preference during a "performance" such as this.

I whole heartedly agree with and support the inclusion of Pole Dancing into the summer games of 2016 provided that the "contestants" be certified to be at least 21yrs of age [and not a prepubescent , diminutive , under nourished , flat chested , 16] and every contestant must end their routine completely NUDE.
There is no doubt in my mind that the TV viewing audience approval rate for such an event would whip advertisers into a feeding frenzy. [Major Networks "take note" and lobby the IOC accordingly, your financial clout would effect an immediate decision on this issue]. Look what bikini wear did for "Beach Volleyball"

Sure why not. We're all going to hell anyway, and I'm not even religious. lol

As an ex stripper and known for doing a faster pole show, I have to say that was impressive. I'm also a guy, but some of the things she did, I could never do, but there's a few things I could still show her that I'm sure she hasn't seen either. Olympic sport, probably not. Sport, respect and ability, most certainly. I'd be concerned about her if she was military.