According to Wikipedia, there are certain sports (all recognised by the Olympic Body - the International Olympic Committee) that will NOT appear at the the 2012 London Olympics.
For example - Tug of War contested at the 1904 Summer Olympics. It was later dropped from the Olympic programme but remains a recognized sport.
At any time, a recognized sport may be added to the Olympic programme in future Games through a recommendation by the IOC Olympic Programme Commission, followed by a voting of the IOC membership.
When Olympic demonstration sports were allowed, a sport typically first appeared as such before being officially promoted. An International Federation (IF) is responsible for ensuring that the sport's activities follow the Olympic Charter; from the moment their sport is recognized they become official Olympic federations and can assemble with the IOC and remaining Olympic IFs. Recognized sports that are not part of the competition schedule for an Olympic Games usually become part of the schedule of the World Games.
The following sports, though not contested in the Olympic Games, are recognized as Olympic sports by the IOC:
• Air sports
• Bandy
• Baseball
• Billiard sports
• Boules
• Bowling
• Bridge
• Chess
• Climbing
• Cricket
• DanceSport
• Golf
• Karate
• Korfball
• Lifesaving
• Motorcycle sport
• Netball
• Orienteering
• Pelote Basque
• Polo
• Powerboating
• Racquetball
• Roller sports
• Rugby
• Softball
• Squash
• Sumo
• Surfing
• Tug of war
• Underwater sports
• Water skiing
• Wushu
There are a few of my all time favorites on the list - like 20/20 Cricket and Rugby. Maybe, one day, they will be included. I do know a number of the top world cricketers have recently expressed that they would like 20/20 cricket included. Maybe 2012 Olympics in London would consider this - especially after the way the England one-day side has just played.
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