I know that some of you are aware of this bill that would help our sport throughout every college in the US.

I have already emailed my representatives and senators about the bill, but I have started a petition as well. Please take a look at it and sign if you agree with it.

If we act in force they can not ignore us. What we need to do is get support from outside our sport as well. Since this bill includes wrestling, tennis, gymnastics, rifle/shooting, fencing,
outdoor track, swimming, skiing, ice hockey, water polo, judo, field hockey, archery, team handball, synchronized swimming, equestrian, badminton and archery we should all do our part to involve anyone we know that is involved with these sports. The more help we get the faster the government will be forced to act.

I have started to email people that I know about the petition and the bill, so please take a look at what you can do to help our Olympic sports succeed.

http://www.collegegymfans.com/FEATURES/fundolymp.htm

http://www.petitiononline.com/s1085/petition.html

Thanks.

There is no reason whatsoever to be posting this--whatever it is and I'm not even interested in it, especially NOW--in multiple threads.

Well, this is the ONE thread it belongs in. I was suprised to see it elsewhere first.

I think it's fine to post it here to get the word out. But I don't think Digitalman used the best nettiquette in doing so.

And I would have liked a little more explanation as to what the bill is about. I was interested at first because I played Team Handball in college so I checked it out [and no, this is not the sport akin to raquetball minus the racket]. Then I was disappointed the bill only supports women's Team Handball. Who decides which sports will be funded? And why would the bill only fund sports for one gender but not the other??

Team Handball is a great, fast paced, physical and hi-scoring game that american athletes-- male and female-- would adapt well to if it had the slightest bit of promotion. It combines elements of basketball, soccer, water polo and hockey and is pretty popular in Europe. Anyway, you can learn more about team handball at the official Team Handball USA site.

This is a sport the US could be very successful at, but it is so rarely covered. And for whatever reason, when it does get attention it's for women's team handball.

Anyway, I'd possibly support a bill like this, but I don't get why gender lines have been drawn.

I don't get it. When was the last time we had a COLLEGE-AGE female gymnast bring home the gold (or silver, or bronze)? This country has had its share of success in this sport, so I hardly think it is in a "crisis". As far as I'm concerned, let the money at colleges be used for something else.

well...women's gymnastics may not be at risk, but volleyball, water polo, swimming and especially wrestling programs are especially at risk...

I am skeptical of online petitions, and I live in DC, so I HAVE NO REPRESENTATION CONGRESS, so I will not be doing anything...but it is worth watching.

Duplicate threads in forums other than "Olympics" have been deleted. Thanks