The Case For The Fall Olympics

The Summer Olympics are in full swing in Paris. Over the next month, athletes will compete in 32 different sports, the result of years of dedicated training. As I watch, I can't help but wonder how much more refined these sports will become. So many sports are essentially “figured-out” now. Gymnastics has evolved to resemble acrobatics rather than what the original sport looked like.

I’m not sure what’s going on with the shooting competition. They have evolved into cyborgs with crafty technology.

The US almost always leads the Olympic medal count. We live in a country that provides good infrastructure for athletes to train and win. That means it isn’t a big deal when America wins gold medals. It’s been normal for most of the 20th century. For the this reason, American TV viewers see the Olympics as perfect background noise for whatever else they’re doing.

But for many people in other parts of the world, especially the developing world, the Olympics serve as a great sense of pride and respect. It matters a lot if they win. You can feel the excitement when certain countries win a meal.

The Summer and the Olympics

The Olympics embody the essence of summer. The Olympics are not just about the sports but about the season itself, capturing its heat, its endless days, and its electric energy.

Since the beginning. Held in honor of Zeus, the chief deity in Greek mythology, the games were part of a larger festival that included sacrifices, feasts, and various religious rites. Summer, being a time of growth and abundance, was symbolically significant and appropriate for such grand celebrations. Summer was a period when most of the major agricultural activities, like planting and harvesting, were either completed or not yet begun. This allowed farmers and citizens to participate in and attend the games without conflicting with their crucial agricultural duties.

It makes sense this is the season where we play these games. Summer sports dominate the schedule. Swimming, track and field, beach volleyball, rowing, sailing, cycling – these activities exemplify summer. Athletes dive into pools, sprint on tracks, and throw discus, embodying the freedom and vitality of the season.

Enter the Winter Olympics

The Summer Olympics are Lindy. They’ve existed since Ancient Greece and were revived in the modern era. Curiously though, in 1921 the IOC added another Olympic Games in the winter. The Winter Olympics never existed before. This was new.

Winter has always been a brutal season. I’ve written about winter before. But by the early 20th century, winter sports like skiing, ice skating, and ice hockey had gained substantial popularity, particularly in Europe and North America. By the early 20th century, the Northern European countries had substantial wealth and influence that they could create a winter games. Something that was impossible in the ancient world.

The Winter Olympics represent the season of winter. It is a frostbitten spectacle every four years and represents man's triumph over nature, the ultimate mastery of technology over the brutal elements. Skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, figure skating, bobsledding – all require specialized equipment. Athletes don layers of high-tech gear, carve through snow on precision-engineered skis, and glide on custom-made skates. It's about using advanced tools to conquer ice and snow.

Why Not The Fall Olympics?

If we’re going to add a Winter Olympics why don’t we add an Olympics in the Autumn? That’s my favorite season. It may be yours too. Fall is the most cozy season. 

The Fall season deserves representation. A calm Olympic Games, a perfect antidote for a world that is so fast paced and buzzing all the time. Fall is is the most visually stunning season, with vibrant foliage creating picturesque landscapes. Hosting the Olympics during this time would provide a breathtaking backdrop for the events, enhancing the viewing experience for spectators around the world. The rich, warm colors of fall leaves and the clear skies typical of the season would make for beautiful, memorable broadcasts.

The Fall inhabits its own world. With its own activities. If the Summer season is about the body and the sun, and Winter is about man’s domination of the harsh season through technology, then Fall is somewhere in between. About man cooperating with Nature.

• Think harvests

• Think building homes

• Think watching the leaves fall

• Think hunting and fishing

• Think slow living

• Think long drives and long walks

Most people would say we already have a Fall Olympics with the Lumberjack games. Some of those events are pretty good.

But we can do better. We can get more creative. There are games out there being played that no one knows about that would be perfect for the Fall Olympics

Ten Games For the Fall Olympics

1) Amish Barn Raising

What a perfect Fall Sport for the Autumn Olympics.

You get about 40 guys from each nation and see how fast they can raise a barn. It’s an event that takes the entire day. It involves building, teamwork, coordination, the physical elements, woodwork. There’s no guarantee America will win!

2) Fishing and Hunting

Fall is a prime time for both fishing and hunting due to the natural behaviors of wildlife. Many fish species are more active in cooler waters, and animals like deer, birds, and small game are more plentiful as they prepare for winter. This natural abundance makes fall an ideal time to hold competitive events that rely on these activities.

Many cultures around the world have rich traditions of fishing and hunting. Including these events would showcase the diverse methods and techniques used globally, from spear fishing to bow hunting.

3) Airship Caravanning 

Remember Zeppelins? We can bring them back.

Airship Caravanning racing would be a unique and fitting addition to the Fall Olympics. The cooler autumn temperatures provide stable and predictable weather conditions, which are ideal for airship navigation and safety. The reduced turbulence in the fall ensures smoother flights, allowing pilots to focus on strategy and precision rather than battling the elements. It would be a slower, calmer approach to racing.

4) Long Race Hikes

The Summer Olympics has the marathon. But what if we extended it to be weeks, or maybe an entire month? It would be a mix between a race and a hike. The athletes would have to learn how to sleep in the wild, transverse many different terrains, perhaps even find food and water themselves. Think of it something like the Swiss 360K race that takes a week to finish.

Or you can do a team competition and make it 800 miles

5) Forest Parkour

Commonly known as Woodland Parkour or bushcraft.

Forest parkour, as a Fall Olympic event, would introduce an exhilarating and visually captivating sport that seamlessly blends athleticism with nature.

Athletes would navigate through natural woodland settings, using parkour techniques to jump, climb, and vault over obstacles like fallen trees, rocks, and streams. This event would highlight the agility, strength, and creativity of participants as they adapt to the rugged and unpredictable terrain of the forest.

6) Archery Mountain Bike Biathlon

The Archery Biathlon combines the endurance and speed of trail running with the precision and skill of archery. Competitors race through a natural course, stopping at designated points to shoot targets with a bow and arrow.

It blends well with the Fall season, with the emphasis on mountain biking in natural terrain and the use of the bow in an outdoor environment.

7) Kite Fighting

Kite fighting as a Fall Olympic event would bring a vibrant and culturally rich competition to the games, combining skill, strategy, and tradition. Set against the backdrop of colorful autumn skies, competitors would engage in thrilling aerial battles, maneuvering their kites with precision and agility to cut the strings of their opponents' kites. This sport, steeped in history across many cultures, would captivate audiences with its blend of artistry and athleticism, celebrating the cultural heritage of kite flying while showcasing the dexterity and tactical acumen of the participants. The dynamic visuals of kites soaring and clashing in the crisp fall air would add a unique and festive element to the Olympic program, making it a standout event.

8) Team Paintball

The world is at war now and will be for the foreseeable future. Why not engage with a battle simulator sport. Paintball. Countries can even contribute real soldiers and platoons. In this case, no one gets killed. Teams from countries navigate natural wooded courses and man-made obstacles, utilizing the unique elements of the season to outmaneuver opponents in fast-paced, objective-based missions.

9) Adventure Bike Racing

Have you heard of the Isle of Man TT? It is the most dangerous race on the planet. The entire island turns into a racing circuit. Darting between houses, trees, trails and public roads. It runs for 13 days.

10) Ultimate Frisbee

Ultimate Frisbee is an interesting sport due to its fast-paced, high-energy gameplay that combines elements of soccer, football, and basketball. It’s a sport that could be mainstream if given a chance.

The sport features continuous play with teams working to advance the disc down the field through a series of quick, precise passes, culminating in spectacular catches and defensive plays.

The emphasis on athleticism, with players making diving catches, leaping grabs, and agile maneuvers, keeps the action thrilling and dynamic.