How does a sport enter the Olympics?
一项运动如何成为奥运会比赛项目?
Entering a sport into the Olympics can be a long process.
为奥运会增设一个新的比赛项目要经过很多程序。
There are many requirements that must be met before a sport can be considered by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
在奥委会考虑该项目之前,要保证它符合很多要求。
First, a sport must have its own international association.
首先,该运动必须有自己的国际组织。
Next, it must be practised by men in at least 75 countries on at least four continents, or practised by women in at least 40 countries and on three continents.
其次,必须保证至少四个大洲不少于75个国家有男性,三个大洲不少于40个国家有女性参加这项运动。
That's not all. In order for a new sport to be added, another sport must be dropped.
还不仅如此。要增加一个新的项目,就得去掉另一个项目。
This helps the IOC keep the Olympics's budget under control.
这有助于奥委会控制奥运会的预算。
Which ones are out?
取消了哪些比赛?
Some sports that were part of the Olympics in the past have been removed.
奥运会取消了一些原有的比赛项目。
These include familiar sports, such as baseball, as well as more unusual sports, such as power boating.
其中包括橄榄球一类常见的运动,还有一些罕见的运动,比如汽艇。
These sports were judged to have become less popular, and had to make way for new sports which are more popular.
通常这些运动被取消是因为它们变得不如以前流行,就只能让位给新型的、更受欢迎的运动。