If attempts have been made, motorsport has disappeared from the Olympic Games for many years. Why ?
Whether or not you are a fan of Olympic Games, you can probably name at least one or more disciplines. Karate, judo, horse riding, gymnastics or swimming are among the most emblematic. On the other hand, no trace of sports car during the competition, which is currently taking place in Tokyo, Japan. Some would say that it is not really a sport strictly speaking, while others will argue the opposite, knowing the physical demands of this type of activity. But anyway, the only cars visible during the Olympics are those responsible for serving as a shuttle for athletes and staff. But why ? It is all the more surprising that certain brands are sponsoring this event, like Toyota. But you may not know it, but there have been motorsport events at the Olympic Games, since 1900. If the International Olympic Committee does not recognize this type of discipline as an Olympic sport strictly speaking, seven events will finally be organized in parallel.
Among them, a round-trip race from Paris to Toulouse, over more than 1,347 kilometers, won by Alfred Velhge, while 78 cars of all categories were at the start. But while the automobile is more and more developed and democratized among the general public, the car gradually begins to disappear from the Olympic Games, to turn instead to races outside this international competition. It will therefore be necessary to wait until 1936 to see the sports car return to the Olympics, as a “demonstration sport”, in pre-war Nazi Germany. Thus was born an unprecedented rally crossing the whole country, bringing together competitors from several European countries. Bet them, a female crew from England, which quickly took the lead in the competition. Inconceivable for Adolf Hitler, who asks that the arrival be made then in a deserted place, instead of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, in order to avoid certain humiliation.
Back soon ?
It was following this bitter failure for the Führer that motorsport definitively disappeared from the Olympic Games. But already, the cars had in theory nothing more to do there since 1908, date on which the Olympic Charter banish ” sports, disciplines or events in which performance depends mainly on mechanical propulsion », And this for 99 years. This ban was finally lifted in 2007, followed in 2013 by the signing by the FIA of the Olympic Charter and the World Anti-Doping Code. In theory, all the conditions are there for motorsport to make a comeback at the Olympic Games. Except that in reality, it is a little more complicated. Indeed, it will then be necessary to provide additional infrastructure, which is not always easy to find and set up. In addition, the arrival of the automobile in competition would also imply a major overhaul of the list of events, which should take some time to be finalized. Suffice to say that the return of the car to the Olympics is not for now!
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