Olympic Games are in the horizon of Padel, but when?
Padel is globally growing rapidly and it is coming even more professional and wider platform for business and sponsoring. Padel is very audience friendly sports to follow and watch. Padel is played in doubles and the speed is favouring audience to be on track whatever happens on the court.
In this article we have collected and sliced and diced key information and requirement how Padel can become Olympic Sport in the future.
Why Olympic Games?
Olympic Games are the world’s most followed multi-sport event where all the professional athletes compete by representing their own countries. In number of countries, athletes and sport fans it is absolutely the most watched and followed sports competition with an friendly atmosphere.
There are Summer Olympic Games and Winter Olympic Games and they are organised every four years including athletes from 206 countries representing their National Olympic Committee. Summer Olympics and Winter Olympics are alternated every two years within the four-year period.
Olympic Games are governed by International Olympic Committee (IOC). The first Olympics were organised in Greece, Athens in 1896. The first winter Olympics were organised in Chamonix, France in 1924.
Calendar of the Future Olympic Games
| Season | Country | City | Year |
| Summer | France | Paris | 2024 |
| Winter | Italy | Milano Cortina | 2026 |
| Summer | United States | Los Angeles | 2028 |
| Winter | Australia | Brisbane | 2032 |
What are the prerequisites for Olympic Sport?
- Sport must have an international governing body (International Federation) to become recognised by International Olympic Committee (IOC)
- Sport must fulfil ethical requirements of International Olympic Committee (IOC)
- Sport must comply Olympic Charter
- Sport must comply the World Anti-Doping Code
- Sport must comply the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competition
- Sport must be competed by women in minimum 40 countries and three (3) continents
- Sport must be competed by men in minimum 75 countries and four (4) continents
Padel is not yet recognised by International Olympic Committee, but the process is progressing behind the scenes. Padel room to grow in points number 6 and 7 to become Olympic Sport. These targets of minimum number of continents and countries are supported strongly by International Padel Federation and their multiple tournaments organised globally in growing number of countries. Padel is currently played in more than 130 countries by almost 30 million people. On top of this there is increasing number of people joining to the audience to follow this great sport of Padel.
International Olympic Committee has improved the process to introduce new sports to the Games. At the same time it is required to ensure that the numbers of athletes, costs and complexity of the Games remain manageable. Local Organising Committee can propose to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) sports that is only for such Olympic Games edition only or potentially more additional editions from the sports governed by International Federation, and in this case by International Padel Federation (FIP).
Exceptions are possible to become Olympic Sport
In 2020 in Tokyo Local Organising Committee was the first Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (OCOG) whom proposed new sports and included five new sports. In Tokyo they organised Summer Olympic Games with additional sports – Surfing, Karate, Sports Climbing, Skateboarding and Baseball/Softball.
We recommend further reading of this juicy and interesting topic. You can read more about Olympic Charter and requirements in detail from International Olympic Committee website.
What next for Padel to become Olympic Sport?
Padel is the fastest growing sports globally and is growing rapidly its popularity. Currently Padel is already played in over 130 countries by almost 30 million people. All this is basically the most important driver to build foundation of large number of players, fans and professional players in Padel. While this is happening on the courts and Padel clubs, International Padel Federation is investing time and money to increase Padel’s global reach in tournaments in growing number of countries.
As we all know Padel is the fastest-growing sport worldwide. In our best knowledge Padel is to become an unofficial exhibition game at the Paris Summer Olympics in 2024. Paris Summer Olympics are from 26 July to 11 August 2024. Time will tell if Padel will be Official exhibition game in Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics. LA games are organized from July 21 to August 6, 2028, in Los Angeles, California. There is very professional group of people working hard behind the scenes to make this happen.
We can reach Olympics goal together
We hope you like this article. You are welcome to comment below and share all your insights or best guesses how and when Padel will become Olympic Game. Also if you have doubts to share with us, you are more than welcome.
Let’s make this happen together and join forces and efforts to make Padel to become Olympic Sport sooner than later.
