Olymipics Needs Skateboarding But Skateboarding Doesn't Need the Olympics

Mathew Allison's article, Skateboarding Should not be an Olympic Sport, changed my thinking about whether or not skateboarding actually should be in the Olympics. Before, I thought that everyone would support skateboarding in the Olympics but some feel that by putting it in the Olympics, the sport would be ruined and become just like every other sport out there. Mr. Allison states that in order for skateboarding to make it's way into the Olympics, it would have to be standardized in a way that would be unnatural due to the "almost artistic range for creativity in the sport." Allison also shares that true skateboarders are in the skateboarding business because they love it and would do it for free. He feels that by putting skateboarding in the Olympics, some athletes would just be in it to earn money and fame. (i.e. Professional Snowboarder/Skateboarder, Shaun White). In some ways I completely agree with Mr. Allison, and this article has definitely changed my thinking, but i still feel that skateboarding should be an Olympic sport as long as they can find a way not to ruin the sport all together.