Although Pickleball is becoming a much more popular sport, it is not yet an Olympic sport. During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, skateboarding, surfing, and three other sports were added to the Olympic collection.
While new sports are encouraged, Pickleball is yet to make the list!
The sport has to meet certain criteria to be considered for an Olympic sport, and Pickleball (see also: What Is Glow-In-The-Dark Pickleball?)doesn’t quite meet those standards yet.
However, there are a lot of calls for Pickleball to be added to the upcoming Olympic games. For this to happen, the sport will have to grow in international popularity.
If you’re looking for more information on Pickleball, and how it could become an Olympic sport, you’re in the right place! This article will tell you everything you need to know!
Why Is Pickleball Not An Olympic Sport?
Pickleball is not an Olympic sport. For a sport to be considered for the men’s competition in the Olympic games, it must be played in 75 countries across four different continents.
For it to be considered for the women’s competition, it will need to be played in 40 different countries across three continents.
There are some calls for Pickleball to become an Olympic sport in the next Olympic games, but whether or not this happens has a lot to do with whether the sport grows internationally.
How Does A Sport Become An Olympic Sport?
If the international interest in Pickleball improves, then certain things will need to happen for Pickleball to be considered an Olympic sport.
For it to become an Olympic sport, Pickleball will need to be seen as a sport by the International Olympic Committee. For it to be recognized in this way, there needs to be an organization that oversees the sport.
If there is, then the IOC will give the sport International Sports Federation Status.
Then, the organization will have the opportunity to let the IOC know that it intends to become an Olympic sport.
Why Would Pickleball Become An Olympic Game?
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in America. It was invented in 1965 by three men who were just having some fun with their kids. This is the true meaning of a backyard game!
While the intention upon creation of this game was not to become a future Olympic game, the sport quickly became very popular.
The game is a great combination of lots of very popular games. It combines ping-pong, badminton, and tennis. This game is a paddle game, which uses a perforated plastic ball.
As this game is very fast-paced, social, and fun, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the game. It is easy to go out and play Pickleball, and the rules are fairly easy to pick up.
For these reasons, it is becoming a more popular game very quickly. This gives it a good chance of becoming an Olympic sport.
How Do You Play Pickleball?
Now, you might be wondering how you play this particular sport. It is played on a court that is the same size as a badminton court. It is played over a net that is usually set to a lower height than the net in a tennis game.
The points are also very similar to tennis. The main differences are the non-volley zone (also known as the kitchen), and the double-bounce rule.
Pickleball has grown in popularity in the last decade. It now has a professional league, lots of tournaments, and players who are well-known within the sport!
How Many Olympic Sports Are There?
There were 33 sports played in the Olympic games in Tokyo in 2020. The Olympics in Tokyo saw 5 extra sports added to the games since the previous Olympics in 2016.
Now and again, the International Olympic Committee will meet to add or remove sports from the games. This is dependent on a few different factors.
Which Sports Were Added In 2020?
In 2020, skateboarding, surfing, karate, baseball, and softball were added to the Olympic games.
Baseball and softball have previously been in the Olympic games, but they were removed at some point. They were added back in 2020.
In 2024, which is set to be held in Paris, breakdancing is going to be added to the list of sports. It is just a matter of time before Pickleball makes the list too!
What Do The IOC Look For?
It is difficult for a game to qualify as an Olympic sport. The committee has over 35 different criteria for considering a new sport.
Olympic Proposal
The IOC will look at the proposal for the number of events there will be in the Olympics for this sport, and how many days of competition will be necessary. This is to work out the practicality of adding the sport to the Olympic games.
Popularity Of The Sport
The popularity of the sport is then taken into account. This is measured through ticket sales, TV coverage, and media accreditation. The more popular the sport is, the more likely it is to make it to the Olympic games.
Business Model
The IOC will also consider the potential value that the sport holds. This is related to broadcasting costs and other potential revenue.
Institutional Matters
This refers to matters such as the anti-doping code concerning the specific sport.
Final Thoughts
Pickleball is not yet an Olympic sport. It is growing in popularity, and it has the potential to become an Olympic sport if interest in the sport continues to grow.
It is a very popular sport in the U.S., however, it has to be popular all over the world to be considered for the Olympic games.
You should now have all the information you need on the game of Pickleball and the potential it holds to become an Olympic sport shortly!
Hi, I’m Michael Walter, and I am a Pickleball enthusiast. I work as a High School Physical Education Teacher, so I have an expansive knowledge of sports and its impact on physical health.
When I first took a position at my current school, one of the many things I wanted to implement in the curriculum was Pickleball.
Pickleball is a fantastic sport to keep yourself active, healthy, keep your blood pumping, and to start a good sense of competitiveness and team work.
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