The international development of  paddle  continues to make significant progress. The discipline will officially become part of the curriculum  13th South American Games , organized into  Argentina  du  12 26 in September 2026 .

After a first appearance in the form of exhibition matches at the Asunción Games in 2022, padel will this time become a full-fledged medal sport.

A major step towards the international recognition of the discipline.

Padel officially included in the 2026 South American Games

 The tournament will be played in Rafaela 

The padel competition will take place from  22 25 in September 2026  in the town of  Rafaela , within the new microstadium built specifically for the Games.

The event will bring together delegations from countries affiliated with the ODESUR  whose national federations are recognized by the  International Federation of Padel (FIP) .

Each nation will be able to field:

  • a pair of men's shoes,
  • and a pair of women's clothes.

In total, the South American Games will host nearly  5,000 athletes from 15 countries .

 A new step forward for world padel 

This official integration represents a new symbol of the growth of padel in major international multi-sport competitions.

For several years, the  FIP  is multiplying its initiatives to strengthen the presence of padel in major continental events, with the clear objective of continuing to bring the sport closer to the Olympic movement.

The federation emphasizes in particular that the development of padel is based on several strong values:

  • inclusion,
  • socialization,
  • and respect for the principles of the Olympic Charter.

 Luigi Carraro hails “a very important step” 

The President of the FIP,  Luigi Carraro obviously welcomed this announcement.

“South America is an integral part of the history and development of padel. Its presence in a new continental multi-sport event confirms the international recognition achieved by our sport.”

The Italian leader also reiterated the importance of continuing to integrate padel into major international sporting events.

 Padel continues its expansion in multisport competitions 

The inclusion in the South American Games adds to a growing list of international events already confirmed for the coming years:

  • the  Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games ,
  • the  Asian Games Nagoya 2026 ,
  • the  Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games Riyadh 2026 ,
  • or the  European Games Istanbul 2027 .

All these competitions show that padel continues to gain ground on the world sporting scene.

Benjamin Dupouy

I discovered padel directly during a tournament, and frankly, I didn't really like it at first. But the second time, it was love at first sight, and since then, I haven't missed a single match. I'm even ready to stay up until 3am to watch a final of Premier Padel !

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