Will Pickleball Be an Olympic Sport?

It’s not a question of “will” but rather, “when?” At least we hope.

Pickleball is currently experiencing an explosion in popularity. Places2Play, the USA Pickleball map, now has nearly 8,500 locations where you can play… and probably countless other unregistered Church basements, off-season tennis courts, and gymnasiums. This sport has gained popularity because it is taught in community centers, high school gym classes, community facilities, and retirement communities. Numerous new international clubs have formed as well as national governing bodies across several continents as the sport continues to grow.

2024 or 2028? That is the question.

Pickleball is popular in the US, but it isn't as popular overseas. In order to understand why the pickle's game isn't there, you have to stick with us for the entirety of this article. You will also learn the steps any sport must follow in order to be eligible to participate in the Olympics. 

Let’s start with a simple question:

Why Isn't Pickleball in the Olympics?

Sports must meet certain requirements to be included on the list of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Among them, one condition is that at least 75 men from four continents must play. Or, women from at least 40 countries across three continents are required to play.

Despite its widespread popularity in the USA, Pickleball currently does not meet the criteria.

What Kind of Sport is Pickleball?

Play takes place on a small court similar to that used for tennis, or perhaps you might say a badminton court. The equipment used is almost identical to that used in tennis, being pickleball paddles, nets, and plastic balls. It is also known as tennis, badminton, and table tennis combined.

Despite these three being Olympic sports, pickleball is not included in the list. Can pickleball be considered a worldwide phenomenon? 

Well, according to the SFIA, the USA Pickleball website states that there are 3.1 million pickleball players in the U.S. This is a 12% increase over last year! Apart from the USA, this sport is regularly played in other countries such as Canada, England, France, Spain, Finland, India, etc. However, it's not enough to satisfy the IOC.

Tokyo 2020 was a year of new sports.

The Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games (that took place in 2021, due to COVID) was one of the largest sports events in history.

This year, five new events met IOC standards and were added to the Games. This included Karate, Surfing, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing (indoor rock climbing), and Baseball. Sports fans everywhere rejoiced and enjoyed seeing how these events were televised and scored.

Which Sports are Included in the Olympics and When Are They Added?

In order for a sport to be included, the following steps must be taken: 

First, the International Olympic Committee must recognize the game as a sport.

A nongovernmental organization, overseeing at least one sport, is then required by the IOC to look after its administration. The sport is then recognized as an international sport after getting the IF (International Sports Federation) status. 

The Olympic charter and the anti-doping code are required. Athletes of the competition must, at this stage, comply with the anti-doping code of the Olympic movement, which includes successful out-of-competition testing and adherence to Olympic Charter rules. This applies to all sports in the Olympics.

IFs of sports must submit a petition to the IOC outlining their eligibility requirements to become part of the Games. An activity can then be admitted to the Olympic program in one of three ways: as a sport (track and field), as a discipline (Women's skateboarding), or as an event (long jump). Each of these methods has its own rules, but the purpose should remain the same.

In efforts towards increasing the value and appeal of the Olympic show, the proposed event or sport should enhance the value and appeal. Moreover, the sport or event must preserve its modern tradition.

It should be noted that pure mind games are not permitted by the Olympic committee. Neither are mechanically propelled sports. Because of the two reasons mentioned above, the game "Chess" is not included in the list.

So, here’s the question everyone is wondering:

Will pickleball debut at the Olympics?

As we realize, taking part in the Olympics is no easy feat. Despite its rapid spread around the world, pickleball has not yet attained the required level of popularity.

To expand the popularity of pickleball, the International Federation of Pickleball must take steps towards their Olympic goals.

Tennis players may also be inspired by this trip to try this sport on their favorite courts, which opens up the game to a whole new host of potential players. Another way to enhance the acceptance of the game quickly is by hosting more events, sharing through videos, and posting on social media.

Currently, it is primarily a US game. For the sport to gain acceptance in other countries, popularity must increase. Nevertheless, if the game is able to maintain its current popularity and trajectory, we may be able to see it in the 2028 Olympics.

Would you like to see pickleball at the Olympics? You can help by sharing and promoting the sport with your friends around the world! Help us make history and get pickleball on the global stage at the Olympics.