Does Pickleball Qualify as an Olympic Sport?

From all Accounts Pickleball Seems to be Poised to Make an Appearance at the Summer Olympics - What Will it Take? 

Much is known and written about the rapid popularity and growth of Pickleball. The game is also gaining in world wide acceptance and visibility and we have seen the establishment of world-wide organizations such as the the Global Pickleball Federation

So, what do we need to know about the question of Olympic inclusion. Firstly the game could (but not necessarily) appear as a demonstration sport. Subsequent to IOC evaluation of the success as a demonstration sport, the game must next receive IOC blessing as an Olympic sport. 

Here is what we know:

First Step: How to Become A demonstration Sport

The selection of demonstration sports for the Olympics involves several steps and considerations:

1. Proposal by Host Country: The host country often proposes demonstration sports that are popular or culturally significant within their region.
2. Approval by the International Olympic Committee (IOC): The IOC reviews the proposals to ensure they align with the Olympic values and standards. This includes considerations of global appeal, gender equality, and the sport’s governance.
3. Trial and Evaluation: The proposed sports may be trialed in smaller events or as part of the Youth Olympic Games to evaluate their feasibility and popularity.
4. Final Decision: Based on the evaluations, the IOC makes a final decision on whether to include the sport as a demonstration event.

This process helps the IOC gauge the sport’s potential for future inclusion in the official Olympic program.

Being designated a demonstration sport at one Olympics is not an automatic entry into the mainstream. That requires additional approvals as outlined below:

Second Step: How a sport becomes an Olympic Event
​
The process for a sport to become an official Olympic event involves several steps:

1. Recognition by the IOC: The sport must first be recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This requires the sport to be governed by an international federation that adheres to the Olympic Charter and the World Anti-Doping Code.
2. International Popularity: The sport must be widely practiced. For men’s sports, it should be played in at least 75 countries across four continents. For women’s sports, it should be played in at least 40 countries across three continents.
3. Application by the International Federation: The sport’s international federation must submit a detailed application to the IOC, demonstrating the sport’s global reach, governance, and adherence to Olympic values.
4. Evaluation by the IOC: The IOC evaluates the sport based on various criteria, including its popularity, universality, history, and the value it adds to the Olympic Games.
5. Approval and Inclusion: If the sport meets all the criteria, the IOC may approve its inclusion in the Olympic program. This decision is usually made several years in advance of the Olympic Games where the sport will debut.

This process ensures that the sports included in the Olympics are globally recognized and align with the values of the Olympic movement.

After each of these steps, and if all the criteria for Olympic Sport inclusion have been met, the IOC will vote on the sport’s inclusion. 

From all appearances it seems pickleball is destined to one day become an Olympic event (esp considering that “Breaking” was recently included as a demonstration sport.)

International Olympic Committee: Courtesy of IOC

---