Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States, and it is also starting to pick up steam in other countries as well. So, you might be curious as to whether you will see pickleball being played at this summer’s Olympics in Paris? The answer is unfortunately not, but take heart, because it may not be long until pickleball will be played in the Olympics!
For a sport to be in the Olympics, it must be governed by an International Federation that must implement the World Anti-Doping Code. For a sport to be added to the male sports slate, it also has to be played widely in at least 75 countries and on at least 4 continents; for a sport to be added to the female sport slate, it must be widely played in at least 40 countries and on at least 3 continents.
Because it did not meet these conditions timely, pickleball will not be part of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and was not included on the additional sports proposal for the 2028 Olympic Games, which will be held in Los Angeles.
So, the next possible opportunity for pickleball to be included in the Olympics will not occur until 2032, when the Olympics will be held in Brisbane, Australia. But it’s not actually that far-fetched to believe that pickleball could be part of that year’s Olympic Games. Pickleball already has several international federations, including the World Pickleball Federation (WPF) and the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF). The WPF has 60 member countries on 6 continents. The GPF has about 40 member countries on 5 continents, and the GPF’s mission is to earn Olympic recognition and the eventual inclusion of the sport in the Paralympic and Olympic Games.
I don’t know about you, but I am already looking forward to 2032!
