European Team Championships adopts lame rules

[VaultNinja]

I'm with Vtech on this one. How many times do the rules need to change. Its ridiculous. You wanna make it more appealing to TV.... show successful attempts, huge misses, and all the crashes. People would rather see blood than glory anyway. I'm convinced thats why nascar is so successful, all those fans are there just to see a good old fashioned high speed car wreck. Do cool background stories on the top vaulters, like show then doing some crazy flip tricks on the pole or in the gym, or flying down the highway at 160mph on a bullet bike, or doing some snowboard jump, or bmx or skateboarding, ect. ect. We do all that stuff. TV needs to show how versatile, athletic, and agile vaulters really are. Not just say it, the classic TV line "Pole vault requires the speed of a sprinter, the strength of a thrower, and the agaility of gymnast." Well dont' just tell the audience, show them! Get people interested in the athletes and the event, don't just keep on trying to make it shorter. Thats not the answer.
I feel sorry for the guys competing at Europeans this year. They're really getting cheated.

[LHSVaulterJJR]

i agree, i mean i know everyone hear was disappointed in the coverage that even a new American record brought by brad walker had brought in, the Olympic coverage was short and sweet as well and the news channels continue to cut the run time for vault. for one of the most difficult, interesting and diverse sports in the world you think it would be more appreciated. and like the above post states if they want ratings show pole vault, show the huge crashes, pole breaks, giant clearances some controversial moments and get the audience involved. they have 10 times as much air time for a 9.7 second sprint then they do for a 2 hour event that encompasses much more than sprinting ( not to mention that some vaulters could be Olympic sprinters). in closing look at the crowd at a track and field event, wheres it centered? around the pole vault! the crowd gets FAR more excited over following the vault, who misses and who clears and over the final hairline clearance compared to any other event in the sport.

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/athle ... lt-changes

Britain's Steve Lewis critical of pole vault changes
Athletics / Summer Sports
Posted: Tuesday 16th June 2009 | 9:21
BRITISH pole vaulter Steve Lewis has hit out at organisers of this week's European Team Athletics Championships in Portugal.


CRITICAL: Steve Lewis insists he can be competitive in Portugal, despite disappointment at pole vault changes


He claims their decision to change the rules - which will see pole vault competitors limited to just seven attempts - has left athletes incensed.

The European Athletics Association claim the move was necessary in order to fit all the events into a crowded weekend schedule and claim there is no plan to adopt the ‘seven jump rule' at next year's European Championships in Barcelona.

But Lewis is still not happy.

"I don't know a single pole vaulter who is happy with the situation," he said.

"It's a shame because pole vault is a really exciting event when the bar starts getting higher.

"It's frustrating and it means I will have to think quite a bit about tactics and try to second guess what my rivals are doing."

Lewis insists he can be competitive in Leira, especially after just missing out on the medals at the European Indoor Championships in Turin earlier this year.

"I'm coming into good form now," added the 23-year old.

"A win is always good for confidence, but this summer is all about the bigger picture, which is the World Championships."