Petition To Get Pole Dancing in 2012 Olympics

To Get Pole Dancing/Pole Fitness Recognized As A Legitimate Athletic Sport

Challenging Paradigms: Vertical Ballet As Olympic Sport

par·a·digm (pār'ə-dīm', -dĭm') n. A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them.

Vertical Ballet just sounds like it should be an Olympic sport, doesn't it? Afterall, "vertical" implies gravity defiance with a dangerous suspenseful element, and "ballet" represents that strikingly beautiful blended art form which is the epitome of athleticism and grace.

Well, what about Pole Dancing? Funny how we as humans are often blind to things which challenge our preconceived notions. We are predisposed to see things we believe to be true based on a "remembered past " -- however, we know that perception (visual, psychological, intellectual) is a matter of interpretation, NOT fact.

Like the horizontal bar, the vertical bar should have a place in international competitive sport. Yes, we are referring to Pole Dance/Pole Fitness. Like Rhythmic Gymnastics, the Horizontal Bar and Figure Skating, Pole Dance/Pole Fitness is acrobatic, technical and takes disciplined physical skill and strength to master. Over 50 countries world wide take part in lessons, workshops, conventions, competitions and teacher training. Petition signatures are currently being gathered to present to the International Olympic Committee to recognize our sport.

Did you know that other recognized sports include:
Billiard Sports
Bowling
Bridge
Chess
Cricket
Golf
Korfball
Life Saving
Motorcycle Racing
Mountaineering and Climbing
Netball
Orienteering
Powerboating
Racquetball
Roller Skating
Surfing
Sumo
Tug of War
Underwater Sports
Water Skiing
Wushu

Join us in shattering old paradigms. Allow us to define and celebrate our sport for the athletic, graceful art it is:
-- Join our FaceBook Petition, and
-- Forward the link to your friends

ARE WE SERIOUS? We are often asked if this is a serious petition. Yes, for all the reasons already outlined. However, deeply rooted perceptions and defining a new sport does not move quickly. Our sport is YOUNG and undeveloped. Through the Pole Fitness Association and with leading pole professionals in the industry, we are working to establish common standards, terminology/ vernacular, and identify levels of difficulty to define each pole move. Next, we need to establish IOC worthy competitive formats (across proper geography, with proper scoring and judging criteria, and more). 2012 will be impossible...WE KNOW this. 12 to 20 years is a more reasonable timeframe for new sports to reach the pinnacle of Olympic recognition. Our objective with this campaign has been to:
1) Build momentum - please forward the petition and help us continue to gain grassroots recognition
2) Get people to think about Pole Dance Fitness in a new realm -- as a competitive SPORT

We have been in contact with the IOC regarding requirements and have formed a proper international pole sports organization. This organization will have an increasingly important charter once we develop and define our sport (mission of the Pole Fitness Association).

For more information on Pole Fitness, check out and support www.polefitnessassociation.com -- the world leader in defining standards for our industry.

Bringing Athleticism And Elegance To Our Sport,

Collette Kakuk
OC Pole Fitness
4 Journey (upstairs)
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

www.ocpolefitness.com

949.360.4600

Media Inquiries Welcome!

1. Like the horizontal bar, the vertical bar (pole) should have a place in international competitive sport.

2. Pole Dance/Pole Fitness is acrobatic, technical and takes disciplined physical skill and strength to master.

3. Over 50 countries world wide take part in lessons, workshops, conventions, competitions and teacher training.