Possible removal of table tennis and badminton from the Olympics may have only a short-term impact on the two sports, and what really matters is their popularity.

The rumor that table tennis and badminton may be removed from the Olympics has caused quite a stir in China. Some people have refuted it in a well-founded manner, some have discussed its possibility, and others appear indifferent to it.

Before the International Olympic Committee reaches a conclusion, all discussions and assumptions are just guesses, but they have shown that no industry insiders want the two sports removed from the Olympics because they think it would be a "dreadful disaster".

Whether the two sports will be removed from the Olympics has nothing to do with the wishes of industry insiders. Objectively speaking, Chinese domination in the worlds of table tennis and badminton is China's glory rather than its fault. However, such domination has indeed damaged the popularity of the two sports. The rumor may eventually come true if the problem continues unresolved.

Industry insiders do not want the two sports removed from the Olympics because they know clearly the huge differences between Olympic and non-Olympic sports. To some extent, being Olympic sports is crucial to the development and promotion of table tennis and badminton. Once removed from the Olympics, the two sports will lose its most important "bargaining chip" for seeking government and market support. It is hard to imagine that the two sports start struggling again after the good old days.

How did the two sports become so dependent on their ties to the Olympics? The Olympics-centered resource allocation and development model must be mainly to blame. China has obtained enough benefits from the Olympics through its domination in certain sports that have only limited international influence. The country should pay more attention to the overall development of its sports cause, instead of being upset by the possible removal of a few sports from the Olympics.

No sports were invented just to be played at the Olympics; neither could they be Olympic sports forever. Possible removal of table tennis and badminton from the Olympics may have only a short-term impact on the two sports, and what really matters is their popularity. It is time for most Chinese sports industry insiders to abandon their Olympic obsession.

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