The rapid expansion of paddle tennis, the international aspect that professional competition has adapted in recent years and the evolution of high-level players beyond Spain and Latin America invites us to ask the question of why paddle tennis is not yet an Olympic sport.
In the last Olympic event, Tokyo 2021, it was possible to see new disciplines such as surfing, sport climbing or skateboarding. In London 2012 women's boxing was included and in Paris 2024 the breakdance It will be a new Olympic category.
Therefore, if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) studies and gradually includes new disciplines to the most important event in world sport, why has padel not yet been considered an Olympic sport?
What does a sporting discipline need to be an Olympic sport?
Well, for a sport to be Olympic it must meet the requirements established in the Olympic Charter. This document sets out the fundamental principles, rights and Olympic obligations.
For a sport to receive the Olympic Charter it must meet the following criteria:
- The sport is supported by an International Federation: “The IOC may recognize as IF international non-governmental organizations that govern one or more sports at the global level and, by extension, organizations recognized by the IF as governing these sports at the national level,” confirms the Olympic Charter.
In the case of padel, the International Padel Federation (FIP) is the body in charge of regulating this sport for more than twenty years. Furthermore, one of its tasks in recent years has been to promote and promote the candidacy of paddle tennis as an Olympic sport. What's more, there are currently 50 national federations.
- Apply the Anti-Doping Code: The IOC requires compliance with the conditions contained in the World Anti-Doping Code.
- Sports presence in 75 countries and 4 continents: that is, the sport, in this case paddle tennis, is implemented in 75 countries for the men's modality and 40 countries and 3 continents in the case of the women's modality.
The last obstacle that a sporting discipline has to overcome to be Olympic is approval by the IOC. Through a vote, the IOC Executive Council chooses three years in advance of the next Olympic Games which sports will meet in the largest sporting showcase in the world
Where is world padel currently?
A priori, the three fundamental requirements promulgated by the IOC are achievable in padel. However, in quantitative terms it may be the last one that poses the most difficulties.
According to the FIP, paddle tennis is practiced in more than 90 countries. This translates into more than 18 million padel players worldwide and more than 300,000 sports licenses, according to Deloitte. Another fact that confirms the global success of paddle tennis is the rapid expansion of paddle tennis courts. In the last two years, more than 270 million euros have been invested in the construction of tracks around the world.
The growth of paddle tennis is unstoppable. The number of players does not stop growing and with it its popularity. This, added to the growth of television audiences for professional paddle tennis and new international competitions such as the Premier Paddle, leave a hopeful scenario for paddle tennis to be considered an Olympic sport.
When will paddle tennis be an Olympic sport?
If paddle tennis continues to grow at the dizzying pace it has done in the last five years, the dream of seeing paddle tennis in the Olympics may be closer than it seems.
All eyes are on Brisbane 2032, while the Paris and Los Angeles events have already been ruled out.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of amateur and beginner players begin a beautiful love story for this sport. A passion that has crossed borders beyond Spain, Argentina or MExico, cradles of world paddle tennis.
Racket, sneakers, padel clothing and until then a few friends will be the weapons of expansion of a sport that sooner rather than later will also end up fulfilling its Olympic dream.
