Should we have Olympic football?

[modeller]

We have seen empty seats for Olympic football , for many years.
Is it worthwhile ?
All over the world we have football every day of the year . Do we really need it in the Olympics as well .

[sunny-dave]

No

[Toes]

Yep, why not?

[ichkeria]

Football in the Olympics pre-dates the world cup by decades. The men's event is mainly for younger players and the Women's event is an important showcase for the Women's game. Just because the general public, understandably, don't rush to the box office for Egypt v Belarus is not IMO an overriding reason for canning it

[mightyWBA]

Just because we've actually entered a Great Britain side it's been noticed.
Football has appeared at 25 of the 27 Olympics,we've won gold 3 times out of the 10 we took part in.

It's got as much right as any other sport to be included really.

[Gromit]

The Olympics audience is worldwide not just those who go to the venues. Football is played in a bigger arena than say gymnastics or Table Tennis. So the Table Tennis might be full with 2,000 spectators and the football half empty with 45,000 spectators.

It is a sport played worldwide so of course it should be in the Olympics.

[hideaway]

Of course football should be included - there is only so much cycling we can take. Becks should have been selected aswell.

[sunny-dave]

So why isn't cricket in the Olympics - longer history, millions of players worldwide ??

[Zeuhl]

cricket?

there probably needs to be a proportion of nations tipping point.

204 countries in 2012 Olympics.

How many of them play cricket?

20-30? including all the tiny Caribbean islands and african countries?

[Duncer]

Look at last night's Wembley crowd for the girls?

[Davethedog]

Yes of course it should, the question should the pro's be playing in the Olympics to which I say no.

[bibblebub]

Cricket was in the Olympics if I remember correctly and the last winners were not who you'd think.

[Kiki-frog]

I'd generally say no. But having seen how well the women's team is doing, yes!

[tonyav]

Who was it then, bibblebub ?

[bibblebub]

I was wrong - just looked it up and we beat the Dutch in 1900, those were the only 2 teams competing.

[tonyav]

Righto bibblebub, thanks.