m Cheerleading

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Garth McLennan, Sports Editor

h, cheerleading, one of

America’s true pastimes.

Aside from being an
integral part of the Dallas Cowboys
marketing plan, cheerleading itself
has generated quite a following
across North America, but is it a
sport?

There’s no doubt that
cheerleading requires a lot of
energy, emotion and a good measure
of athletic ability. The acrobatics
and aerial moves involved in so
many of the routines today are
more reminiscent of competitive
gymnastics than simple cheering.
There’s more to cheerleading than
waving the pom-poms around.
There has to be excellent balance
and focus from all involved, or else
the entire performance is ruined.

Plus, cheerleading has become
a staple on ESPN 2 (unlike a very
prominent sport we take very
seriously up here in Canada. Thanks,
Gary...), the American sports giant.
There are innumerable competitions
all around the continent including
the national championships,
which attracts international media

attention, held every year in Las

_ Vegas.

So, without question, there is
a massive market for cheerleading,
but at its essence can it truly be
considered a real sport? Cheering
on the home team from the sidelines
isn’t, or at least shouldn’t, be
thought of as a sporting activity. It
may be acrobatic, but come on, that

. part of cheerleading isn’t a sport.

Now, from a competitive
standpoint, I would argue the other
way. It can get just as competitive
and cut-throat as anything and it’s
a judged event with winners and
losers. I sort of equate it to dancing.
Just dancing with a partner isn’t
a sport, but you could very well
argue that activities like Irish and
ballroom dancing might be. There is
obviously a good deal of crossover,
as most cheerleaders are both there
to support the home team and also
travel and compete in tournaments.

THE VERDICT

Cheerleading, line dance, should

be evaluated differently depending
on the context. As an activity, no it
isn’t a sport, but as a competition, it
sure is.

 

 

Come to our weekly meetings Monday night at 6 p.m. in room 1020 of the New
West campus. All Douglas College students are welcome to attend!

Or email a section editor with your stories or ideas:

News: news@theotherpress.ca
Opinions: opinions @theotherpress.ca
Arts: arts@theotherpress.ca

Sports: sports @theotherpress.ca
Features: editor@theotherpress.ca

Rewards for regular contributors!

 

 

 

 

19