Luigi Carraro re-elected as FIP president: Olympic Games objective for padel

Luigi Carraro was re-elected president of the International Federation of Padel (FIP) when 34th FIP General Assembly, which was held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Doha during the World Championships PadelThe newly re-elected president also presented new projects approved by the assembly, marking a decisive step towards the inclusion of the Padel at the Olympic Games.

Towards the Olympic Games

The integration of padel into Olympic Games is now a central objective. Carraro expressed his gratitude by saying: “Your trust is an honor and motivates me to continue building the future of paddle, as we have done so far, together”. Supported by 85% of the members, Carraro reaffirmed this Olympic ambition, accompanied by several initiatives to further structure padel.

New initiatives and structuring

Several new initiatives have been approved to support this expansion, including a World Pairs Championship, training for coaches and referees, and a new Code of Sports Justice and Code of Ethics revised. Six new national federations were also admitted, representing theAndorra, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Romania and JordanThe FIP also elected a new council and appointed Santiago Brito, president of the Argentine Federation, as advisor for the Olympic project. Benjamin Tison, a French player, has been appointed president of the Athletes' Commission.

Composition of the new Council

The new FIP Council is composed of members from several nations: Eduardo Da Silva Langer (Brazil), Jorge Mane (Mexico), Ramon morcillo (Spain), koji nakatsuka (Japan), Fabian Parolin (Chile) and Robert Pellegrini (Italy).

Creation of Padel Asia and continental collaborations

Carraro also announced the creation of Padel Asia, chaired by Tariq Darwish Zainal, and confirmed the presidencies of Padel Europe with Ramon Morcillo and Padel America with Jorge Mañe. This network strengthens the link between the FIP and the national federations to support the development of padel in all regions of the world.

Luigi Carraro re-elected as FIP president: Olympic Games objective for padel

Expansion of federations and infrastructure

Since 2019, the number of FIP member federations has grown from 32 to 87 countries. The paddle is now practiced in 150 countries, with facilities expanding rapidly. Today, padel has 66 courts, spread across many countries beyond the once dominant Spain and Argentina.

Rise of competitive padel: circuits and championships

Padel is today structured around two world circuits : Premier Padel and FIP Tour, and a Promises circuit intended for young talents. The World Championship Doha has brought together teams from all over the world. Since 2018, the FIP Tour increased from 6 to 195 events, and Premier Padel has expanded to 24 tournaments in 16 countries. The Promises circuit is growing rapidly, going from 6 to 74 tournaments in three years, with a goal of 200 events by 2025.

Team events set to record high

Team competitions, such as European Championships, also show continued growth, with 51 teams in the last edition compared to 26 in 2017. The junior and senior categories are experiencing similar enthusiasm, marking a strong trend for the international competitions.

A global and structured sport

With 30 million players worldwide, padel is establishing itself as a global sport. In 2018, it was played in 50 countries; today, it is present in 150 countries. Carraro stressed that this continued expansion is supported by the creation of Padel Europe, Padel America and now Padel Asia, aimed at strengthening the structure and visibility of the sport on a global scale.

An Olympic dream

Regarding the Olympic goal, Carraro announced that Santiago Brito, president of the Argentine Federation, has agreed to become an advisor for the FIP Olympic project. “Every day we hope to see the padel racket associated with the five Olympic rings. We are working for this with seriousness and ambition,” he said, mentioning that padel will be represented in the next Junior Pan American Games in 2025 and Mediterranean Games in Italy in 2026.

Team Padel Mag

Team Padel Magazine has been trying to offer you the best of padel since 2013, but also surveys and analyses to try to understand the world of padel. From the game to the politics of our sport, Padel Magazine is at your service.