IT is a story that had me checking my calendar to make sure I hadn’t been teleported back or forward to April 1.

But no, English Heritage appears to be deadly serious about lobbying for jousting to become an Olympic sport.

In a run-up to the Rio Games that has been dominated by the Russian doping debacle and its fall-out, and by incredibly rich top golfers not taking part because it won’t make them richer, this is a tale to gladden the heart.

Jousting has the potential to introduce a much-needed element of the medieval into an increasingly slick presentation of sporting excellence.

Clearly, Olympic logos and team colours would have to be displayed, but I suggest that this should be restricted to a sticker on the front and back of the competitors’ armour.

Yes, armour. Riders have to be dressed in 20 kilograms - that’s 44lbs in old money - of the steel stuff, and the horse has to be protected too.

These days of course, there is a propensity for protective sportswear to be made of some new-fangled carbon fibre compound that weighs next nothing but is incredibly strong and flexible, while providing all-over body protection.

If jousting is to be Olympic sport however, no concessions must be made to modernity. Fans must be able to hear the clank of steel.

And, rather than having the competitors kitted out in armour that is in the colours of the country they represent, we need to see the glint of that steel, with national signifiers kept to a minimum.

The spectacle of two armoured warriors trying to score points by hitting each other with lances 12 feet long, while trying to maintain their balance on a horse at speeds of up to 30mph would doubtless add bite and thrills aplenty to equestrian competition in the Olympic Games.

Contrary to popular belief, the aim of jousting is not to knock one’s opponent off his or her horse, but to score points, the amount being determined by where on the opponent one’s lance strikes.

“Jousting is a sport that requires a huge amount of skill and involves a daily training regime,” said English Heritage jousting expert Dominic Sewell.

“You have to be strong, not just physically but mentally, so you can sit fearlessly in your saddle, face your rival and offer yourself as a target.

“And just like the Olympic British equestrian team, we ride beautiful horses to an exceptional level.”

I’d watch that - bring it on. The main problem though, is with the make-up of the Games as it currently stands.

The introduction of a sport to the Olympics invariably means that another must make way. Why?

Instead of restricting the sporting offer, the International Olympic Committee must be bold and expand the template.

That way, it could incorporate jousting, and all the other sports knocking on the door for inclusion.

Tokyo, the host city for the 2020 Games, has put forward five sports that it would like to see included - karate, skateboarding, sports climbing, surfing and baseball/softball.

Put jousting in there too, and along with all the other staples of the Games, that makes for an eclectic sporting extravaganza. However, it is a delicate balancing act.

One can see why golf’s administrators lobbied long and hard to have the sport included in the Olympic Games, but it appears that no-one thought to ask the world’s top players, at least in the men’s game, if they were interested.

Global exposure for any sport at such an event is priceless, but if that sport’s top performers treat the opportunity with contempt, even first time out, then perhaps room ought to be made for another.

Squash lost out to golf for the Rio Games and its top brass is rightly angered by that omission, given that so many of golf’s top men aren’t travelling to Brazil.

I don’t know much about squash, but I would hazard a guess that if it were on the roster for Rio, none of its top performers would be missing.

Back to jousting though, and English Heritage has started a petition, so keen is it on the idea of making it a part of the Olympic Games. It’s a crazy idea, but it just might work.

To help try to make it happen, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk and follow the link to the petition.