An "Olympic Recognised Sport" is a sport that is (or at some time has been) part of the IOC's long running Olympic Games.
It appears in order for a sport to be included in the Olympics it not only has to be popular but meet certain IOC criteria. The criteria is laid out in the IOC Charter which has relevant excerpts below. From our understanding it boils down to a few main factors:
From The Olympic Charter, Chapter 3, Rule 26, p. 57 (040309)
In order to develop and promote the Olympic Movement, the IOC may recognise as IFs
international non-governmental organisations administering one or several sports at world
level and encompassing organisations administering such sports at national level.
The statutes, practice and activities of the IFs within the Olympic Movement must be in
conformity with the Olympic Charter, including the adoption and implementation of the World
Anti-Doping Code. Subject to the foregoing, each IF maintains its independence and autonomy
in the administration of its sport.
27 Mission and Role of the IFs within the Olympic Movement
1. The mission and role of the IFs within the Olympic Movement are:
1.1 to establish and enforce, in accordance with the Olympic spirit, the rules concerning
the practice of their respective sports and to ensure their application;
1.2 to ensure the development of their sports throughout the world;
1.3 to contribute to the achievement of the goals set out in the Olympic Charter, in
particular by way of the spread of Olympism and Olympic education;
1.4 to express their opinions on the candidatures for organising the Olympic Games, in
particular as far as the technical aspects of venues for their respective sports are
concerned;
1.5 to establish their criteria of eligibility for the competitions of the Olympic Games in
conformity with the Olympic Charter, and to submit these to the IOC for approval;
1.6 to assume the responsibility for the technical control and direction of their sports at
the Olympic Games and at the Games held under the patronage of the IOC;
1.7 to provide technical assistance in the practical implementation of the Olympic
Solidarity programmes.
2. In addition, the IFs have the right to:
2.1 formulate proposals addressed to the IOC concerning the Olympic Charter and the
Olympic Movement;
2.2 collaborate in the preparation of Olympic Congresses;
2.3 participate, on request from the IOC, in the activities of the IOC commissions.
III. PROGRAMME OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES
46 Programme of the Olympic Games*
1. The Programme of the Olympic Games (herein also referred to as "the programme") is
the programme of all competitions of the Olympic Games established for each edition of
the Olympic Games by the IOC in accordance with the present Rule and its Bye-Law.
2. The components of the programme are sports, disciplines and events. The sports are those sports governed by the IFs referred to in BLR 46.1 and BLR 46.2. A discipline is a branch of a sport comprising one or several events. An event is a competition in a sport or in one of its
disciplines, resulting in a ranking and giving rise to the award of medals and diplomas.
3. The choice of all sports for the programme, as well as the determination of the criteria
and conditions for the inclusion of any sport in the programme, falls within the competence of the Session. Only sports that adopt and implement the World Anti-Doping Code
can be included or remain in the programme.4. The decision to include a discipline or event in the programme falls within the
competence of the IOC Executive Board.
Bye-law to Rule 46
1. General provisions applicable to both the Games of the Olympiad and the Winter Olympic Games
1.1 After each edition of any Olympic Games, the IOC reviews the programme. On the
occasion of each review, the standards for the inclusion of sports, disciplines or
events may be reviewed and the inclusion or exclusion of sports, disciplines or
events determined by the competent IOC organs.
1.2 Prior to any decision by the Session on the establishment of the programme of any
edition of the Olympic Games, the IFs governing the sports which are proposed for
inclusion in the programme must confirm to the IOC their participation in that
edition of the Olympic Games.
1.3 The inclusion of any sport in the programme of any edition of any Olympic Games
shall be decided not later than at the Session electing the host city of that edition
of the Olympic Games.
1.4 The inclusion of disciplines or events into the programme of any edition of any
Olympic Games shall be decided by the IOC Executive Board not later than three
years before the opening of the Olympic Games.
1.5 The deadlines set forth in BLR 46.1.3 and 1.4 may be waived, in order to allow
changes in the programme with the approval of the relevant IF, of the OCOG and of
the competent organ of the IOC.
1.6 Prior to any decision on the inclusion of any sport in the programme, the Session
may establish specific criteria or conditions for inclusion.
1.7 The Session is entitled to exclude from the programme any sport, at any time, if the
relevant IF governing such sport does not comply with the Olympic Charter or with the World Anti-Doping Code. In addition, the measures and sanctions provided for in Rule 23 may apply.
1.8 An amendment to BLR 46.2.1.2 and 3.1.2 to the effect of reducing the number of
IFs listed therein may be proposed to and decided by the Session for serious
grounds only, in particular if the relevant IF does not comply with the Olympic
Charter or with the World Anti-Doping Code.
1.9 Any IF concerned by any proposed decision submitted to the Session pursuant to
BLR 46.1.1.7 or 1.1.8 has the right to be heard before any such decision is taken.
2. Provisions applicable to the Games of the Olympiad
2.1 Inclusion of sports in the programme
2.1.1 The sports included in the programme consist of a sports core (hereafter
“the core”) and additional sports.
2.1.2 The core includes at least 25 sports chosen by the Session upon proposal
by the IOC Executive Board among the sports governed by the following IFs:
– International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF);
– International Rowing Federation (FISA);
– International Badminton Federation (IBF);
– International Baseball Federation (IBAF);
– International Basketball Federation (FIBA);
– International Boxing Association (AIBA);
– International Canoe Federation (ICF);
– International Cycling Union (UCI);
– International Equestrian Federation (FEI);
– International Fencing Federation (FIE);
– International Association Football Federation (FIFA);
– International Gymnastic Federation (FIG);
– International Weightlifting Federation (IWF);
– International Handball Federation (IHF);
– International Hockey Federation (FIH);
– International Judo Federation (IJF);
– International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA);
– International Swimming Federation (FINA);
– International Union of the Modern Pentathlon (UIPM);
– International Softball Federation (ISF);
– World Taekwondo Federation (WTF);
– International Tennis Federation (ITF);
– International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF);
– International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF);
– International Archery Federation (FITA);
– International Triathlon Union (ITU);
– International Sailing Federation (ISAF);
– International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).
2.1.3 Upon proposal by the IOC Executive Board, the Session may choose one or
several additional sports among those sports listed in BLR 46.2.1.2 and
which would not have been included into the core by decision of the
Session, as well as among sports governed by IFs recognized by the IOC.
2.1.4 The total number of additional sports chosen by the Session for the
programme shall be such that the total number of sports included in the
programme, including the core, shall not exceed 28.
2.2 Applicable procedure
2.2.1 The IOC Executive Board proposes to the Session the inclusion in the
programme of at least 25 sports which shall constitute the core. The Session
shall vote en bloc on the inclusion of the core, its decision being taken by a
majority of the votes cast. In case such majority is not reached, there shall
be additional rounds of votes by the Session as determined by the
President. All sports included in the programme pursuant to such rounds of
votes shall then constitute the core.
2.2.2 Once the core has been constituted in accordance with BLR 46.2.2.1, the
IOC Executive Board may propose to the Session the inclusion in the
programme of one or several additional sports as defined in BLR 46.2.1.3.
The Session may vote on the inclusion of additional sports en bloc or through
individual votes, its decision being taken by a majority of the votes cast.
* Air sports
* Bandy
* Billiard Sports
* Boules
* Bowling
* Bridge
* Chess
* Cricket
* DanceSport
* Floorball
* Golf
* Karate
* Korfball
* Life Saving
* Motorcycle Racing
* Mountaineering and Climbing
* Netball
* Orienteering
* Pelote basque
* Polo
* Powerboating
* Racquetball
* Roller Sports
* Rugby
* Squash
* Sport climbing
* Surfing
* Sumo
* Tug of War
* Underwater Sports
* Water Skiing
* Wushu
Seven sports seek to join the Olympic programme
http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/newsletter_full_story_uk.asp...
Looks like in order to get a place Takraw will have to take the place of an existing sport
