Padel soon at the Olympic Games?

Always looking for new sports to boost the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee might be tempted by the paddle… Unless it's the other way around. Because being part of the unmissable event for world sport has many advantages, both in practice and in terms of economic repercussions.

Winding path

Climbing, breakdance, skateboarding and surfing: the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will open their doors to these 4 new disciplines in order to capture a new audience, a priori younger and nourished by extreme disciplines. Entering this circle takes many years and there is no guarantee that this accession will be sustainable. Karate knows a lot about that since its presence will begin and end in Tokyo this summer (hopefully).

In column published on LinkedIn, Martín Echegaray mentioned the possibility of seeing Padel at the Olympics. A discipline that can be practiced outdoors or indoors, padel has characteristics that are likely to please those responsible for the Olympic program. Telegenic, rhythmic, spectacular: padel has what it takes to succeed in its seduction campaign.

Not before 2028

Luigi Carraro, the president of the International Federation of Padel, mentioned in his electoral program and had projected a deadline as an objective: the 2024 Olympics. Whether in demonstration discipline or outright official, it will be necessary to wait at least 4 more years. What to strengthen the file.

“The advantages of being an Olympian are many, explains Echegaray. Olympic medals seem to have a magical power that dazzles everyone. The subsidies sports in Spain are incomparable between Olympic and non-Olympic sports. And it is the same in many other countries and regions. The first automatic sponsors would be the public administrations. And the private investors would not be outdone. It's not nothing. Under normal conditions, this should be the result of extensive, coordinated and well done work over many years. Is that the case ?". The organization of the Worlds in Paraguay is obviously called into question.

padel courts belgium casa genval — Photos IMAGELLAN by Philippe Buissin Casa Genval Belgium

Time and effort

Belonging to the very closed circle of Olympic sports is a marathon, a long-term race. Echegaray takes the example of Eric Moussambani, a Guinean-Ecuadorian swimmer whose courageous but pathetic 100m freestyle at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 had toured the world. “What people know less is that this seemingly failed swimmer fought and improved to the point that he became a national swimming coach in his country and a benchmark for youth. Time and effort ”.

If padel can, at best, only appear on the program in 2028, to growth is encouraging. The kind of significant aspects that attract the attention of decision-makers concerned with associating sports competition with business.