Pickleball is a combination of badminton, tennis, and table tennis. It is played on a badminton-style court, complete with a net, paddles, and a plastic ball with holes. Pickleball is a simple activity that can be enjoyed by individuals of all ages and abilities.
But what about the Olympics? Is there a pickleball Olympic sport? And, if not, what are the chances that it will emerge in future Olympic games?
The History and Growth of Pickleball
Pickleball was invented in Washington, USA in 1965 by Joel Pritchard and Bill Bell. It has now gained popularity in North America, Europe, and Australia.
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, with over 5 million participants estimated by 2021, according to The Economist. Pickleball competitions are likewise getting more competitive and costly, with a prize pool of more than $5 million expected for 2022.
The Process of Becoming an Olympic Sport
- To make the grade and become an Olympic sport, pickleball has to first be accepted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the governing body of the Olympic games.
- The first step is to have an International Federation (IF) that represents and regulates the sport globally. For pickleball, that is the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP), which was founded in 2010 and currently has 69 member countries.
- The IFP is working hard to promote and develop pickleball around the world, as well as to meet the criteria for recognition by the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), which is the umbrella organization for all IFs.
- One of the main criteria for GAISF recognition is to have at least 75 member countries from at least four continents. The IFP is close to reaching this goal, as it expects to have 70 members soon and has contacts with potential members from Africa and South America. Once GAISF recognition is achieved, pickleball will be officially considered an Olympic sport by the IOC.
- However, that does not mean that pickleball will automatically be included in the next Olympic games. The IOC has the final say on which sports are part of the Olympic program, and it usually considers factors such as popularity, universality, gender equality, youth appeal, and media interest.
- The IOC also has a limit of 28 sports for each summer game, which means that some existing sports may have to be dropped or reduced to make room for new ones.
For example,
Tokyo 2020 added five new sports: baseball/softball, karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing.
Paris 2024 will add four new sports: breakdancing, surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing. Brisbane 2032 has not announced its proposed sports yet.
The Chances and Challenges of Seeing Pickleball in the Olympics
So what are the chances of seeing pickleball in the Olympics? Well, it depends on several factors, such as how fast pickleball can grow its global presence and popularity, how well it can showcase its appeal and potential to the IOC and the host cities, and how much support it can get from fans and sponsors.
Some pickleball enthusiasts are hopeful that Los Angeles 2028 could be a realistic opportunity for pickleball to make its Olympic debut, as it is the birthplace of the sport and has a large and active pickleball community.
“International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) and the World Pickleball Federation (WPF). Both the IFP and WPF are pursuing efforts to have pickleball featured as an Olympic sport,” stated in Wikipedia
But even if pickleball does not make it to the Olympics anytime soon, there are other ways for pickleball players to compete internationally and represent their countries. For example, there is the Bainbridge Cup, which is an annual team competition between North America and Europe.
There is also the World Pickleball Championship, which is an individual event that attracts players from over 20 countries. And there are many other regional and national tournaments that offer high-level competition and prizes.
Pickleball may not be an Olympic sport yet, but it is certainly a sport that brings joy and excitement to millions of people around the world. And who knows? Maybe one day we will see someone win a gold medal in pickleball at the Olympics!
FAQs
Pickleball is a fun and exciting sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis and table tennis. It is played on a court similar to a badminton court, with a net, paddles and a plastic ball with holes.
No, pickleball is not an Olympic sport yet. But there is a long and complex process involved in getting a sport recognized and accepted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the governing body of the Olympic games.
According to the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP), there are currently 69 member countries that play pickleball. The IFP is working hard to reach at least 75 member countries from at least four continents, which is one of the criteria for recognition by the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).
There is no definitive answer to this question, as it depends on several factors, such as how fast pickleball can grow its global presence and popularity, how well it can showcase its appeal and potential to the IOC and the host cities, and how much support it can get from fans and sponsors.
Besides the Olympics, there are other ways for pickleball players to compete internationally and represent their countries. For example, there is the Bainbridge Cup, which is an annual team competition between North America and Europe. There is also the World Pickleball Championship, which is an individual event that attracts players from over 20 countries..
Conclusion
Pickleball is a sport with several perks and benefits. It’s enjoyable, simple, inclusive, and competitive. It is also a sport with great promise and desire. It aspires to be an Olympic sport and to reach out to more people and areas throughout the world.
Pickleball may not yet be an Olympic sport, but it is one that merits our attention and support. And who knows what else? Maybe one day someone will win a gold medal in pickleball at the Olympics!