With three years until the Rio Games, 3-on-3 basketball and BMX freestyle "are trying to join the Olympics," according to Graham Dunbar of the AP. The IOC is assessing possible extra events, teams and athletes for Brazil after the successful London Games, "with one of the deepest wish lists" coming from FINA. IOC Sports Dir Christophe Dubi said on Monday that the Olympic sports federations have been "extremely creative" with their requests. Dubi said that "the IOC wants to make the same impact with new additions as they made in London," which awarded 302 medals in 26 sports. Golf and seven-a-side rugby "join the roster in Rio." Traditional sports also are competing and the swimming body suggested 50-meter medal events in backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly for men and women, plus 800 freestyle for men and 1,500 free for women. "Is it totally different? No, but it's important as well," Dubi said, highlighting swimming's "super-high" ratings. "Every time you put it on TV there is consumption." FINA also "seeks more entrants in women's water polo (12 teams instead of eight), open-water swimming (30, up from 25), diving and synchronized swimming team event." With the iconic Copacabana sands hosting beach volleyball, "the sport's governing body proposes 32 teams in each of the men's and women's events, up from 24 in London" (AP, 4/8).
