E Sports like sepak takraw are another story.Those who love this game hope to see it added to the Olympic line-up in 2008.Its athleticism is obvious,sepak takraw's supporters say.As an Asian sport,it can provide some balance to the Olympics'European and North American events.It is as well-organized and popular as any other sport,according to its fans.Those who would keep the game out of the Olympics argue mostly that it is simply too local.Few people outside one region play it.Although there are sepak takraw associations in Canada,Australia,and elsewhere,most of them are very small.Olympic medals in sepak takraw,its opponents say,would simply be gifts to a few Southeast Asian nations. F A different kind of controversy surrounds such extreme"street sports as skateboarding.Its proponents say that it is one of the few real sports played by actual amateurs.The modern Olympics began as an event for nonprofessional athletes. According to skateboarders,it is a true sport of the people,unlike synchronized swimming or ballroom dancing (both Olympic events).It is also far more athletic.And its supporters claim that it is kept out of the Olympics simply because skateboarders do not look very "Olympic.They favor odd hairstyles,often behave recklessly,and try not to look like other Olympic athletes.This is a complaint voiced by players of many sports-if you look too poor,you cannot enter the rich man's Olympics. G On the other side,Olympic purists argue that it is very fair to keep scruffy looks and wild behavior out of the Games.The Olympic Games are the visible part of a movement, they say,to encourage peace and civility around the world.Athletes who do not live by Olympic ideals do not belong.Furthermore,skateboarding's opponents claim,it is not a sport.It doesn't have a well-established network of associations around the world.It has few rules,and skateboarders have few lower-level international tournaments.Skateboarders argue this.They are very well-organized,they say.They point out that the somewhat- related sport of snowboarding has made a fine addition to the Winter Games.Its addition to the winter line-up has not damaged the Olympic spirit,they say,but has updated it. 1359E Sports like sepak takraw are another story. Those who love this game hope to see it added to the Olympic line-up in 2008. Its athleticism is obvious, sepak takraw' s supporters say. As an Asian sport, it can provide some balance to the Olympics' European and North American events. It is as well-organized and popular as any other sport, according to its fans. Those who would keep the game out of the Olympics argue mostly that it is simply too local. Few people outside one region play it. Although there are sepak takraw associations in Canada , Australia , and elsewhere , most of them are very small. Olympic medals in sepak takraw, its opponents say , would simply be gifts to a few Southeast Asian nations. F A different kind of controversy surrounds such "extreme" street sports as skateboarding. Its proponents say that it is one of the few real sports played by actual amateurs. (The modern Olympics began as an event for nonprofessìonal athletes. ) According to skateboarders, ìt ìs a true sport of the people , unlìke synchronìzed swìmmìng or ballroom dancing (both Olympìc events). It ìs also far more athletìc. And ìts supporters claim that ìt ìs kept out of the Olympìcs sìmply because skateboarders do not look very "Olympic." They favor odd hairstyles, often behave recklessly , and try not to look like other Olympìc athletes. This is a complaìnt voiced by players of many sports if you look too poor, you cannot enter the rich man' s Olympics. G On the other side , Olympic purists argue that it is very faìr to keep scruffy looks and wìld behavior out of the Games. The Olympic Games are the visible part of a movement , they say , to encourage peace and civility around the world. Athletes who do not live by Olympic ideals do not belong. Furthermore , skateboarding' s opponents claim , it is not a sport. It doesn' t have a well-established network of associations around the world. It has few rules, and skateboarders have few lower-level internatìonal tournaments. Skateboarders argue thìs. They are very well-organized , they say. They point out that the somewhat￾related sport of snowboarding has made a fine addition to the Winter Games. Its addition to the winter line-up has not damaged the Olympic spirit , they say , but has updated it. 1359