Why not shake up the Olympics?

Why Not? is a biweekly newsletter from Post Opinions written by columnist Daniel Pink, who will explore bold, surprising ideas to improve our world . Click the “subscribe ” button above to make sure you receive every edition of this newsletter.

By Daniel Pink , Contributing Opinion columnist

As the International Olympic Committee, the 200-plus participating nations and all of us sports fans ponder the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, we have a chance to think bigger — to bring this quadrennial spectacle more fully into the 21st century.

The modern Olympic Games have matured from battles of brute strength in 1896, when the economies of the 14 participating countries relied on the equivalent of pinning dudes to a mat or hoisting a massive barbell. Over the next 120 years, the Games evolved: Women joined in 1900, officials sanctioned popular team sports in the mid-20th century such as basketball and volleyball, and events that require finesse and beauty became mainstays, from artistic swimming to rhythmic gymnastics.

Yet today’s Games don’t fully reflect how much the world has changed.

Why not introduce more contemporary competitions, assemble more varied teams and involve more of the world as participants?

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