SO THERE I was, scanning the government news agency’s website to see what they’ve been getting up to lately, when, among news about the social grant net spreading a little wider, and some less impressive same-old, same-old “turnaround strategy on track” and “progress is being made” pronouncements, a headline caught my eye: “Russia invites SA to rock ‘n’ roll”.
I was intrigued.
The article beneath it was a little off-the- wall; could it be a lame leftover April Fool’s Day prank, I wondered.
It wasn’t. It was a serious proposition from Russia’s Federation of Acrobatic Rock ‘n’ Roll, urging South Africa to develop the “sport” here.
If we take it up, reckons Vladimir Prokhorov, head of the sports organisation Youth of Moscow, we’ll be instrumental in helping to get it recognised as an official Olympic sport. He calls for at least three African countries to get involved.
“We started with South Africa, which is our Brics partner,” says the man who has the enviable (?) job of promoting the idea around the world at the request of the World Rock ‘n’ Roll Confederation. “I am convinced that acrobatic rock ‘n’ roll can become an Olympic sport in 12 years.”
The Russian rocker reckons the prize money – “already big enough to attract young people” – will increase when it’s given Olympic stature. And Musa Mdluli, CEO of SA company Khupuka Investment Holdings, who apparently organises sport exchanges between SA and Russia, says that with the “good marketing” he believes the new sport needs, “young guys will like it”.
Being widely established around the world is one of the main criteria for any sport to become Olympic. Rugby was given the boot, even though it drew the largest single crowd for any sport at the 1900 Paris Olympic Games, because only two teams entered the 1908 and 1920 games. But along with golf, which hasn’t been an Olympic sport for more than 100 years, it’ll be back for Rio 2016.
The same will never be said, I’m sure, for another “discontinued” Olympic sport: “Live Pigeon Shooting”.
Not surprisingly, it was only held once – in 1900. According to sport and science resource Topend Sports, the object of the event was to shoot and kill as many birds as possible.
“The birds were released and the winner was the competitor who shot down the most birds from the sky …. Nearly 300 birds were killed. The event turned out to be quite messy in the end, with dead or injured birds on the ground and blood and feathers all over the place.”
I wouldn’t hold my breath for acrobatic rock ‘n’ roll’s inclusion either; it’s not so much bloody as bloody boring if YouTube videos of it are any indication. Contest entry Cool Cats plays like a poor man’s Strictly Come Dancing – and I’ve seen more exciting high kicks from a donkey.
And from the wussy moves featured on Acrobatic Rock’n’Roll Universite Moscow 2013: 4 World Champions of acrobatic Rock ‘n’ Roll In Moscow ! Show Final ! video, well, let’s just say I can’t see East London’s own edgy break-dancing B-boys taking it up any time soon.
Today’s Chiel is Stevie Godson. E-mail her at
It’s only rock ‘n’ roll …
I was intrigued.
The article beneath it was a little off-the- wall; could it be a lame leftover April Fool’s Day prank, I wondered.
It wasn’t. It was a serious proposition from Russia’s Federation of Acrobatic Rock ‘n’ Roll, urging South Africa to develop the “sport” here.
If we take it up, reckons Vladimir Prokhorov, head of the sports organisation Youth of Moscow, we’ll be instrumental in helping to get it recognised as an official Olympic sport. He calls for at least three African countries to get involved.
“We started with South Africa, which is our Brics partner,” says the man who has the enviable (?) job of promoting the idea around the world at the request of the World Rock ‘n’ Roll Confederation. “I am convinced that acrobatic rock ‘n’ roll can become an Olympic sport in 12 years.”
The Russian rocker reckons the prize money – “already big enough to attract young people” – will increase when it’s given Olympic stature. And Musa Mdluli, CEO of SA company Khupuka Investment Holdings, who apparently organises sport exchanges between SA and Russia, says that with the “good marketing” he believes the new sport needs, “young guys will like it”.
Being widely established around the world is one of the main criteria for any sport to become Olympic. Rugby was given the boot, even though it drew the largest single crowd for any sport at the 1900 Paris Olympic Games, because only two teams entered the 1908 and 1920 games. But along with golf, which hasn’t been an Olympic sport for more than 100 years, it’ll be back for Rio 2016.
The same will never be said, I’m sure, for another “discontinued” Olympic sport: “Live Pigeon Shooting”.
Not surprisingly, it was only held once – in 1900. According to sport and science resource Topend Sports, the object of the event was to shoot and kill as many birds as possible.
“The birds were released and the winner was the competitor who shot down the most birds from the sky …. Nearly 300 birds were killed. The event turned out to be quite messy in the end, with dead or injured birds on the ground and blood and feathers all over the place.”
I wouldn’t hold my breath for acrobatic rock ‘n’ roll’s inclusion either; it’s not so much bloody as bloody boring if YouTube videos of it are any indication. Contest entry Cool Cats plays like a poor man’s Strictly Come Dancing – and I’ve seen more exciting high kicks from a donkey.
And from the wussy moves featured on Acrobatic Rock’n’Roll Universite Moscow 2013: 4 World Champions of acrobatic Rock ‘n’ Roll In Moscow ! Show Final ! video, well, let’s just say I can’t see East London’s own edgy break-dancing B-boys taking it up any time soon.
Today’s Chiel is Stevie Godson. E-mail her at
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