Page 3 - Mid America Boating - September/October 2024 issue
P. 3
Forget pickleball – activities, dating back thousands of years.
From the ancient Egyptians and Greeks to
today’s modern cultures worldwide, fishing has
Fishing should be in the Olympics! been a fundamental part of life and culture.
And like other good sports, fishing embodies
skill, patience, proper use of equipment, along
by Norm Schultz with a profound respect for nature.
It’s globally estimated more than 300
ith the competitions now over at the Paris Olympics, there’s a growing call for pickleball
Photo courtesy of Discover Boating million people engage in fishing activities. 3 [ MID-AMERICA BOATING ] SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2024
Wto be added. But any such addition would pale in comparison to the justifications for Moreover, a whopping 50 million-plus anglers
fishing to be included in the world’s premier sporting showcase. from 78 nations also fish competitively!
The Olympics celebrate athleticism, skill, and even reflects global unity. With fishing’s long Championing a push for Olympic
and rich history, world-wide participation, and alignment with the good spirit of the Olympics, inclusion is both USAngling and the world
fishing is long overdue for a place on the Olympic stage. sportfishing Confederation Internationale
de Peche Sportive (CIPS). And, if and when
fishing is recognized by the IOC, it would
become eligible for both Summer and Winter
Olympic Games.
USAngling, a 501c3 charitable organization,
is going all out to make the Olympics quest
happen. Right now, America’s top anglers
To gain new audiences, sports like already compete on the global stage and
skateboarding and even breakdancing have win world championships, including three
already been added to the Olympic roster! And, consecutive world titles by our USA Bass
more new sports will debut at the 2028 Games Fishing Team, several world titles for our
in Los Angeles, including baseball/softball, USA Fly Fishing Youth Team and the recent
cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash. Gold Medal as the Pan Am games by our USA
Now all those may merit inclusion. But, Kayak Fishing Saltwater Team.
compared to fishing, the new push for In addition, USAngling is our nation’s
pickleball (a mix of tennis and ping-pong home for World Championship and Pan
played with a wiffleball) is a head scratcher of American Championship angling. It
Olympic proportions! represents a total of seven freshwater sports,
The justification, proponents claim, is four fly fishing sports, three saltwater sports
that 13.6 million pickleballers are now in and one casting sport.
the U.S. But here’s a News Flash – that’s If you agree fishing should now be in the
nothing compared to the whopping 54.5 Olympics, why not take a minute to get more
million-plus anglers in our country alone. information on how to support, sponsor
Moreover, while Pickleball isn’t world-wide, or even be a volunteer for USAngling, its
fishing is definitely global. tournaments and teams. Simply go to:
In fact, fishing is one of humanity’s oldest usangling.org MAB
Thank You!...
for your business and
friendship for the
past 36 years
Now it’s time
to enjoy our
grandchildren and
great grandson…
Mike & Ginny Simonis
and maybe even
Harbor Side some boating!
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