FOOTBALL AT THE WINTER OLYMPICS?

4 December 2001


Indoor football (or 'soccer' as much of the world knows it), with five players to a team, wants to be included as an official sport at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

European soccer's ruling body, UEFA, wants the game, known as 'futsal', to be part of the 2006 Winter Games in Turin. Earlier this year FIFA suggested futsal should be included in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

The IOC has said 'futsal' does not qualify because 'it is not a winter sport'. The Olympic charter requires winter sports to be played on snow or ice.

Other sports, such as bridge and chess, have tried to join the Winter Games on the grounds they are indoor sports, but they were rejected by the IOC, proving that even a gravy train like the Olympics does have some limits [err...I'll get me coat then....!].








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