France’s Paris — Pickleball is still not included in the Olympics, despite appearing to have gained popularity recently. Why? Timing and a lack of governmental acknowledgment are two of the primary challenges.
Limited international appeal is one of the main challenges for any sport hoping to qualify for the Olympics. For a sport to qualify for the Olympics, it must be “widely practiced by men in at least 75 countries and on four continents and by women in no fewer than 40 countries and on three continents,” according to Britannica.
Apart from the Olympics, it appears that the phenomenon has spread recently. We found the reason.
Pickleball will face another challenge once it reaches that level, though, since before a sport can be added to the Olympic schedule, the worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) must recognize its worldwide organization. Although it is not listed among the organizations recognized by the IOC, there is an International Pickleball Organization. the previous version was established in 2016, and the IPF was established in 2023.
Although the IPF’s website lists 78 member countries, several sections indicate different numbers, such as 77 and 73.
As per the Olympic website, “only sports which comply with the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code and the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competition are eligible to be in the program” This is another prerequisite that needs to be taken into consideration for the Olympics.
The Olympic Charter states that each Olympic Games’ schedule of sports is decided seven years previous to the Opening Ceremony or, if that happens later, at the time the host is selected. Up till 2034, the host cities have been announced.
The following announcements about potential host cities will be made before the Italian towns of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo host the Winter Olympics in 2026. Pickleball might be introduced to the schedule for the summer games in 2036 or any other future games if certain conditions are fulfilled.
However, “Upon proposal from the IOC Executive Board following an agreement between the relevant OCOG[Organizing Committees of the Olympic Games], the relevant IF, and the IOC, the sports program may be amended by a decision of the Session not later than three years prior to the opening of the relevant Olympic Games.”
In another way, it is likely to include pickleball in the 2028 games, but it would require a lot of rapid and unlikely changes.