It is an old dream, an aspiration, a goal to be pursued by all the estates that are part of this wonderful sport. Will we see the padel one day in the program of the Olympic Games? Do not miss this interesting report that we offer in the 20 number of the Digital Magazine TopPádel 360.
Padel World Press .- There is still a long way to go for the paddle to be accepted as an Olympic sport but it is also true that its international expansion continues little by little and at a good pace. That is why there is no doubt that in the future, once it meets all the requirements demanded by the IOC, we can see how the paddle is present among the 28 sports disciplines of the Olympic Games.
Since August 05, the Rio de Janeiro Games are already underway, where paddle tennis will not be present yet ... And despite the fact that it has an increasing number of practitioners and is better known worldwide, it still does not meet the necessary requirements to be an Olympian.
And what are those requirements that are included in the Olympic Charter? In the case of men's disciplines, they must be practiced in a minimum of 75 countries and on four continents by men; in women, in a minimum of 40 countries and three continents by women. Furthermore, they must have adopted and properly applied the World Anti-Doping Code and will have to be accepted at least seven years before those Olympic Games start.
Therefore, paddle tennis will not be Olympic in Tokyo 2020 either. For now, the sports shortlisted to be included in these Games are baseball, softball, bowling, karate, skating, climbing, squash, surfing and wushu.
A requirement that meets almost all, except in the number of countries where it is practiced, despite its internationalization is going well and is becoming more known in more nations.
In Rio de Janeiro we will see how two sports, golf and Rugby 7, which were accepted during the 121 session of the IOC in October 2009, are incorporated into the Olympic program. To accommodate these two new sports, baseball was dropped from the Olympic program. and softball.
And it is that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has introduced another requirement by which in any of the Summer Olympic Games more than 28 sports will be able to meet, with a total of 300 events and 10.500 competitors. That may be another handicap to enter paddle tennis in the future at the Olympic event. And is that in order for it to be on that list of 28 sports, one of those that are already in it would have to 'leave', so things to be an Olympic sport are not easy.
A long way to go
So that the paddle could be in the 2024 Olympic Games, it should be approved by the IOC next year and there should be a sport that could leave the place in the competition, so an early date is still foreseen, but surely, if you continue with that expansion, it could be in the 2028 or 2032 ones.
Paquito Navarro said: "Of course he will become an Olympian, of course. I think that I will not live it as a professional player, but it would be a great illusion that padel will become an Olympic sport. "
The current number 4 of the world recognized that the expansion of the paddle "goes very slowly", and that to be Olympic it has to be played in a minimum of 72 countries. "The padel today is played between ten and 15 countries, more or less. We have a long journey to 72 ".
In his statements, the Sevillian did not miss the opportunity to ensure that paddle tennis is a sport: "He is eating a lot of ground, not only tennis but also other sports. It is a great moment to bet on him and that the media is interested to finish exploiting, especially at a professional level. The only thing lacking in the padel is being able to be seen live on a public network. That's where a great quality leap would take place. "
Former player Pitu Losada wanted to highlight the effort they are making from the World Pádel Tour, not only for its internationalization (which is necessary for it to be an Olympic sport) but also so that it can be seen live. Something that would also help in this expansion and be known in more countries. "The WPT's commitment to its television means that anyone can see it from anywhere in the world."
Another player, like Willy Lahoz, said that now is a good time to bet on the paddle. "It is the second sport with the highest number of practitioners in Spain and, at a professional level, the Circuit is consolidating and expanding. Hopefully we will imitate tennis, with a circuit like that of the ATP. I wish we could reach those levels. That is a symptom that is a sport that has matured, that is no longer a fad but a reality. "
For his part, Javier Porras, former Director General of the World Paddle Tour Circuit, said that the idea that paddle tennis is a future Olympic sport is “fantastic, but there is still a long way to go. In addition to meeting the requirements established by the IOC, we need a major institutional restructuring in the world of paddle tennis. That an agreement be reached with the International Padel Federation so that there is a single world ranking, so that any federated competition has the score of the tournaments that is established and is standardized with the WPT ranking ”.
As he confirmed, to be in the Olympic Games: "We need the padel to grow in all the senses, at the business and also the federative level. It is a job that we trust in the future to be a reality, since it would be good for the paddle. "
Now we just have to wait for the expansion of the paddle to continue as it has been until now and that the television bet to offer this sport, something necessary for the final boom of the paddle. All of them will help you to be present at the Olympic Games. Something, that at least, will not be possible until those of 2028 or 2032.
David López Corralo
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