9 Peculiar Summer Olympic Sports that Have Been Discontinued

Photo by: Albert Meyer

1896 International Olympic Committee

At the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896, nine sports were contested: wrestling, fencing, athletics (track and field events), cycling, tennis, swimming, weightlifting, gymnastics and shooting. Over the years, that number has increased significantly with the inclusion of everything from table tennis to taekwondo, from basketball to badminton. While many of these new ... more 

Photo by: Albert Meyer

1896 International Olympic Committee

At the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens in 1896, nine sports were contested: wrestling, fencing, athletics (track and field events), cycling, tennis, swimming, weightlifting, gymnastics and shooting. Over the years, that number has increased significantly with the inclusion of everything from table tennis to taekwondo, from basketball to badminton. While many of these new additions have stuck around, others have been phased out indefinitely for one reason or another by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which in recent years capped the number of sports contested at the Summer Olympics at 28 (there will be only 26 at the 2012 Summer Olympics). Some sports, such as tennis and archery, have been discontinued and then, years later, reinstated. Currently, to be included in the Summer Olympics, a sport must be practiced by men in 75 countries spanning four continents and by women in 40 countries across three continents. Also, unlike some early Olympic events, no motors are allowed.

Of course, many of these discontinued Summer Olympic sports and disciplines, both of official and demonstration variety, fall into the "odd" and/or "obscure" category. Here's a look at nine of them, listed alongside the year that marked their last - and in many cases, only - appearance. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're off to play a game of korfball. less