By April MacIntyre Feb 14, 2010, 20:57 GMT
Pole dancing, performed at strip clubs the world over, would like a little respect, please.
Strippers at the Olympics? EPA/Friso Gentsch
Strippers are lobbying the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to consider their art form on the same playing field as walking, Curling, Ping Pong and equestrian events.
New York strip club Scores, made famous by radio personality Howard Stern who has ad-libbed for the club on his show for years, is reaching out to put some legitimacy on the arduous task of dancing on and around a pole.
Scores New York has announced that it is currently in the process of lobbying to have pole dancing accepted as a competitive sport for the purpose of participation in the 2012 Olympic Games. With pole dancing now widely acknowledged as a fitness regime among major names in sports and fitness, Scores claims they are supporting numerous employees who are competitive pole dancers by organizing an appeal. “Pole dancing, once relegated to gentlemen’s clubs such as ours, has become a legitimate sport recognized by mainstream sports centers the world over. The degree of flexibility, strength, and stamina required for pole dancing is on par with any gymnastics routine,” noted Edward Norwick, General Manager of Scores New York. “Frankly, there is no reason something as arcane as curling should be an Olympic sport and not pole dancing.” In order to secure inclusion into the Olympic Games, Scores will be working toward recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and help build membership, competition, and standards of activity throughout the world.
Once the Olympic committee admits the discipline of pole dancing into an already existing international federation, Scores and other proponents of this sport will begin lobbying for official inclusion into the 2012 Olympic Games.
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