Running 1600 metres on Earth against the best of the best is tough enough, but imagine doing that or any other sporting activity on the Moon! Perhaps one day you might get the chance as non profit organisation the Moon Village Association (MVA) intends to propose a symbolic event on the Moon during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, either in 2024 in Paris (France) or in 2026 in Milan-Cortina (Italy).
Created in 2017 and based in Vienna, the MVA comprises approximately 220 members from more than 39 countries and 25 Institutional members around the globe. Participation is largely informal.
The organisation’s goal is to be a sort of hub, or informal global and all encompassing forum that brings together all of the efforts from those members who are looking to explore and use the Moon in a sustainable manner. “There is no other organisation on the international scene having such a mission,” say the MVA.
The MVA’s reach extends not just to industry, governments or academia but they also want the general public involved too. This announcement of a symbolic event on the Moon is one such avenue that they hope will inspire global citizens and get them involved.
Giuseppe Reibaldi, President of the Moon Village Association, states, “showcasing Olympic Games on the Moon will be for the public a concrete example of the implementation of the Moon Village, and a demonstrative pilot case of Earth-based activities that can be carried over onto the Moon, in an innovative new manner.”
The MVA consider their proposition an achievable target, as countries and organisations are lining up to deliver payloads to the Moon in the next few years. Some of which are members of the MVA.
However, delivering payloads to the Moon and playing sports on the lunar surface, if that is the type of symbolic event that the MVA is proposing, are two very different things.
As the Moon is far less massive than Earth, its surface gravity is only about 1/6th as powerful as our planet. If it was a sporting event and its not conducted in an artificial gravity environment, then any would be off-world sports men and women would see their skills increase six-fold!
If, for example, you can jump 30 centimetres on Earth, you would be able to jump almost 2 metres straight up into the air on the Moon. And if throwing is your thing then you would be able to throw a discus or javelin 6 times further too.
Suddenly the Moon seems a very desirable place in which to try and become an Olympian.
So far though, very few details have been released about the event. Further information is expected to be announced at the 3rd Moon Village Workshop and Symposium, that will take place in Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan from the 5 - 8 of December 2019.
“These symbolic Olympic Games on the Moon will signal a new auspicious landmark for humanity and stimulate public inspiration; whilst at the same time attracting the interest and bringing in the involvement of industries that have never been involved before on Moon and Space related activities,” concludes Reibaldi.
