IOC reopens the door to padel for the 2028 Olympic Games?

Le paddle, can he still have a chance to integrate the Olympic Games as early as 2028 in Los Angeles? After having seemed excluded, the idea resurfaces thanks to the global craze for this dynamic discipline. But this prospect raises questions, in particular on the chances of medals for certain nations such as the USA, and on the sporting imbalances that could result from such a decision.

A worldwide craze that shows no sign of fading

Le paddle is experiencing phenomenal growth, even in countries where it was previously relatively unstable, such as the USA, where the public begins to fall in love with this discipline. With its mix of technicality, conviviality and spectacle, padel attracts a new generation of players and spectators. According to sources close to the case, IOC would consider reopening the padel file, motivated by its potential to capture the attention of a young audience and to diversify the Olympic program. However, this prospect raises tensions, particularly on the part of the United States Olympic Committee.

US held back by lack of medal chances

If you paddle could appeal to the American public, the main obstacle lies elsewhere: the chances of medals for the United States are almost zero. Indeed, during the last World's Championships, English-speaking nations posted modest results, far behind world leaders such as theSpain and Argentina. For the USA, hosting the Olympic Games is synonymous with top-level sporting performances, with a clear goal: to shine on the medal table. To this day, it seems unlikely that an American duo could compete with the world's best players, especially in such a short space of time.

An opening for padel in Brisbane 2032?

If the 2028 horizon remains uncertain, the integration of the paddle at the Olympic Games of Brisbane in 2032 seems much more likely. Indeed, the dynamics around padel in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly with the emergence of the Pacific Cup from 2025 in Tahiti, could play in favor of this sport.

Pacific Cup 2025: padel takes you to Tahiti!

Tensions between nations

Another obstacle for the olympic padel lies in the current dominance of theSpain and Argentina. Some Olympic committees might see this integration as too great an advantage for these two nations. Although countries like the France (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and the Italy have some potential, they still have some way to go to catch up, particularly among men, where the gap is significant. In the women's category, the Spanish next generation is already impressing with very young players who are dominating international competitions. On a collective level, it seems difficult to imagine an upheaval in the world hierarchy by 2028, but progress could be made in four years.

IOC faces a dilemma

Le IOC could, however, find a compromise by valuing the inclusion of an accessible and universal sport such as padel, while meeting the expectations of the host countries. After all, the United States has already obtained the presence of disciplines where its chances of medals are maximum, such as flag football, baseball, or the lacrosse. If these concessions have been made, why not give the paddle, which could also appeal to a global audience and diversify the Olympic events?

Towards a light for 2028?

Although the integration of the paddle in Los Angeles 2028 still seems uncertain, the idea is no longer totally excluded. A small light seems to have been rekindled, reviving the hopes of fans of this sport. If the door does not open for 2028, the objective of Brisbane 2032 could become an almost inevitable reality. With growing support from players, clubs and federations, the paddle continues to chart its course towards Olympic recognition. It remains to be seen whether the IOC will be able to seize this opportunity as soon as possible Los Angeles Games or if we will have to wait a few more years to see the first medals of paddle shine at the Olympics.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.