Roller Sports Hopes to Add Urban Feel to Olympic Program

(ATR) The president of the International Roller Sports Federation (FIRS) says his sport is particularly suited to urban environments like the types that often host the Summer Olympics.

"Roller sports was born inside the city," said FIRS president Sabatino Aracu, "and we want to stay inside the city."

Aracu pointed to a race in Rome’s Piazza Navona as an example of ideal conditions for the sport.

"We want to organize, for the future, all the world championships and many exhibitions and many competitions inside the downtown."

Roller sports is one of four sports outside the Olympic Program getting an extended look from the IOC as part of the Nanjing 2014 Sports Lab, something Aracu calls "a very interesting, very important innovation in the Olympic movement."

The park on the east bank of the Yangtze River is giving attendees a chance to see demonstrations and participate in wushu, skateboarding, and sport climbing, as well as Aracu’s sport. From what he has seen, once visitors see a sport demonstrated, they "want to also do the sport, want to stay near the sport."

The FIRS president says the chance to get in front of the Olympic Program’s decision makers is not one to be taken lightly.

"We must help the IOC members to understand our sports because when some look at our sport or other sports just one or two times, [they do] not understand the sport. Now, we must speak with them."

One of the big draws for the sport is its appeal among the youth. Aracu says he began skating at age 10, which is not uncommon.

"I remember that I wanted to try because the people with the shoes [were] very fast," said Aracu with a laugh. He remembers thinking, "It’s possible I can go just as fast. I will try."

FIRS made concessions for its display at the Sports Lab. Aracu says the course is not representative of all roller sports courses due to the lack of banking.

"This is only the show."

Written by Nick Devlin in Nanjing

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