How come ballet is not in the olympics?

: How come rhythmic gymnastics and figure skating are in the olympics, but not ballet?
Isn’t figure skating just dancing on ice? And there really isn’t much difference between rhythmic gymnastics and dance, is there? So why are they considered sports while dance isn’t?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Ryan
Cuz ballet is not a sport and there’s no way to judge it

Answer by Kay
because from what i know ballet has its own kind of olympics

Answer by Red Dragon at the Olympics
Ballet is a dance and is not really a sport as such ? im sure the profession Ballet dancers have there place somewhere but not at the Olympics !

Answer by Bramble
Yes, it seems illogical, but i think the reasoning is this: funding for ballet companies and the like is included in the ‘Arts’ budget, whereas funding for gymnastics and skating comes under ‘Sport’ , so if the Olympic committees started allowing ballet in, it might lead to all manner of other things being introduced that don’t necessarily come under the category of sport. Also, gymnastics is very much focused on pushing the human body to its absolute limits whereas i think ballet is more focused on creating something beautiful that different people respond to in different ways, rather than just breathtaking skills, so it’s more of an art than a sport. I do agree with you, though.

Answer by K
If you think figure skating is just “dancing on ice” then you are an ignorant buffoon.

Figure skating is extraordinarily difficult and the skaters are pure athletes. There is nothing soft or delicate about figure skating – you have to be tough and hard-working – tougher than a hockey player, that’s for sure.

I think the answer lies in how they see themselves. Dancers consider themselves artists, not athletes, while figure skaters and rhythmic gymnasts see themselves as athletes first and artists second.

EDIT:

@call me Al

I respect your contributions to this section as informative but you’re way off the mark with this one.

Figure skating judging is NOT always a “farce”. Yes, it’s often contentious, and especially the men’s at the moment. But there are very few “farces” in figure skating. Salt Lake City pairs was one of them – where the Canadians threw a massive temper tantrum because the better Russian pair won fair and square. The World Championships and several other minor competitions this year have been part of an all-over larger one – where a Canadian man keeps winning despite falling many times. But to claim it is always a “farce” is incorrect and does the sport of figure skating an injustice.

Second, the same countries are always contending because they are the ones who are good at it and have the facility to develop the talent! It’s the same as any other sport. An Australian who is based out of Australia is never going to win in figure skating because we just do not have the facilities, coaching time, and basic backing. The Russians have extensive programs for figure skating that make it irrelevant if you are rich or poor – they choose on talent and talent alone. In Western countries how far you progress often depends on how big the cheque book is because it is an expensive sport, like it or not.

As I said, I and many others value your contributions to this section, but in this case, you are off the mark by a considerable way.

Answer by call me Al
Ballet is considered to be an art form whereas gymnastics and figure skating are sports with artistic elements. If ballet is to be included, what’s to stop dramatic theater from being included? How about improvisational comedy? Sculpture? Any form of human endeavor? The line has to be drawn somewhere, and this seems as good as any.

Furthermore, who judges ballet? Figure skating judging is a farce — notice how it’s always the same half dozen countries contending for medals — and there’s no reason to believe ballet judging would be any less preferential.

Incidentally, if “figure skating is just dancing on ice”, then so is synchronized swimming. Just because two activities share some characteristics doesn’t make them equivalent.

Answer by Starlight 1
No, Emily, figure skating is NOT just “dancing on ice” as you put it, unless you happen to be talking about the actual Ice Dancing competition, which is based on BALLROOM DANCING, NOT BALLET. Ballet is one of the performing arts. It is not a sport and has never been considered a sport, even though there are sports like rhythmic gymnastics, regular gymnastics, figure skating, synchronized swimming, and dressage (which is one of the horse sports) that are based on it and incorporate moves from it. People do not compete against one another in ballet, except to determine who will dance in which company and be employed by a particular employer, and that is VASTLY different from athletic competition. Sports like figure skating require enormous amounts of practice and training time, and if one wishes to win at the international level, they also require total dedication as well. Ballet, not so much.

And figure skating is not a “farce”, as someone else on here put it. It is a legitimate, recognized sport with its own governing body. Yes, it’s political and rather subjective, but then again, so are most of the Olympic sports. All the horse sports certainly are, without exception.