LEFT: Sergio Pinero of Dominican Republic competes during the Men's Trap Shooting qualifying at the London 2012 Olympic Game at the Royal Artillery Barracks, Aug. 6, 2012. RIGHT: Terry Kimener of the Denver Outlaws runs the ball up the field against the Chesapeake Bayhawks at Navy-Marines Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md., Aug. 11, 2012.
Drop it: Shooting
It’s one of the oldest events at the Olympics, but I think it should be the first to go. Yes, hunting and shooting are beloved pastimes around the world, but that doesn’t mean shooting belongs in the Games. It’s boring to watch, it’s not athletic in the traditional sense, and, with 15 separate events, it hogs a disproportionate amount of the Olympic stage. Sure, it requires hand-eye coordination, but so does playing Buck Hunter. Let’s lose it.
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Add it: Lacrosse
The most unexpectedly interesting events at the Olympics tend to be the team sports that don’t get much international attention at any other time—think women’s soccer or field hockey. Lacrosse is one of those sports, and it would make for some great on-field battles. The sport was included in some of the earliest Olympic Games, but it’s still growing, with new national associations cropping up recently in Uganda, Thailand and Hungary. Although lacrosse might not have the highest global profile, it’s so exciting that even a glimpse of the fast-paced action and full-contact plays is guaranteed make fans out of any newcomers in the stands.