“Is pickleball an Olympic sport?” a question, we see, everyone asking in the court these days! Not because of a fake rumor but in actuality, Pickleball is truly a sport that has been getting more and more limelight every day, it is getting recognized by many sports agencies around the world.
Although it has not become a part of the Olympics yet, chances are very favorable. There has been news that it will be added to the 2024 Paris Olympics or the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Games. That is not just it, the details are very interesting followed by the few worth reading key points about pickleball so let’s dive into it without further ado.
Is Pickleball an Olympic Sport?
Well, the answer is “No”. Pickleball is not an Olympic sport at least until 2024. However, it is very likely to end up in the Olympics in either the 2024 Paris Olympics or the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Games.
As of now, pickleball is not a part of the Olympics and it does need a few years to make progress that far. Though the 2024 Olympics seems like less possible to have pickleball, however, there is a strong chance we’ll see that sport in 2028.
Not us, but the statement has come from a renowned man in charge of the Olympics, Steve Sidwell. Though it is not hidden that the popularity it is gaining every single day, it can surely help the game to end up in Olympics near time soon”.
Qualification for Olympics:
Olympics generally have sports like swimming, diving, and of course, gymnastics. But is that all that the Olympics has to offer? Definitely not! The Olympics have a lot more sports but they might not be as popular as others. In 2016, there has been the inclusion of new sports in pickleball. Skateboarding, baseball, and karate are worth mentioning onbes. However, sadly, Pickleball is not one of them.
This is because there are many criteria the game has to meet before getting into the Olympics, and pickleball does seem to meet a few of them. Like there is this requirement that the sport must add to the value and appeal of the event, which we are pretty sure it will be adding to the Olympics as we know the audience will love it.
However, there is still more to achieve before Pickleball could enter the Olympics as one of the mandatory clauses that need to be met for the IOC to select Pickleball is that men from 75 countries of three continents must play the sport. Or, women from 40 countries in 3 continents are into the game, and Pickleball fails to meet this one since it’s largely a US-based game still.
Even though, many sports failed to qualify for the Olympics even after having all these characteristics. Reason? Because there’s more. The game should be interesting, the countries should the players well, and it should be non-doped.
Luckily, as fast as pickleball is gaining popularity it seems like it will definitely make its entry into the Olympics within 2 to 3 years. And we are sure, that once it will be recognized by the IOC and added to the Olympics it will become as popular as Tennis and Badminton in no time.
Apart from its popularity, another reason is that the International Federation of Pickleball is working very hard to spread the sport as much as they can, and the making of the USA Pickleball Association is proof that they are getting successful.
What is Pickleball?
Though, we have talked too much about it;’s debut in the Olympics. Let’s have a look at what the game actually is.
Pickleball is a sport that is created by crossbreeding three of the most popular sports in the world i.e. Badminton, tennis, and ping pong. And the best part is that even with the properties of all three of these, pickleball has its own uniqueness.
The game is pretty simple as it uses a court similar to a badminton court but with the net a little lower. Instead of rackets, it uses pickleball paddles which are at least thrice the size of a ping pong bat, and instead of a shuttlecock or tennis ball, it uses a perforated plastic ball just like the one they use in Wiffle ball. That’s everything you need to play pickleball, and of course, the players!
Now, let’s get into the gameplay, you might think it’s the same as the play of badminton or tennis but you will know the difference when you play it. Two teams of two players each stand by each court’s side, the game starts by service, and just like volleyball, the team who serves can score the point.
To win a team needs to have 11 points with a lead of 2. However, the goal of the game is to keep the ball in the air as much as you can because that’s where all the fun is. It is a very fast-paced game and requires a lot of practice to master. We have further a complete guide explaining how to play pickleball for enthusiasts like you, who want to learn more about the game.
FAQs:
Final Verdict
We are pretty sure after reading all about it you must be exhilarated to try pickleball. Though, we can’t wot top say “yes” when the next time people ask is pickleball an Olympic sport.
Whether pickleball becomes an Olympic sport or not, it should not bother you, you go and gather your friends and start playing now. Who knows that you might master the sport and get the chance to be the first person to represent your country in the first game of pickleball in the Olympics. Well, too ambitious? It’s not impossible, right?
All in all, pickleball is making its way through success and climbing its way up to the Olympics gradually. It is a family-friendly game, and now, it is even played in many colleges as well, in fact, Intra college tournaments also take place in Canada and the USA.
We hope you get answers to all your questions about pickleball, let us know what you think about Pickleball being a part of the Olympics!
He’s an extreme introvert and that’s one of the reasons he’s never seen participating in tournaments, despite having a 5+ rating. He hates the spotlight so much that he’d stay in the corner writing all the tips, tricks, and lengthy explanations about the game but would never come in front to communicate with someone. That’s why he stays as low-key as possible, helping the players randomly without acting as a couch where you gotta deal with so many players.
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