Will Pickleball Become an Olympic Sport? Its Current Global Status and Prospects for 2032 and 2036

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Pickleball Lab 代表

2026年6月12日

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Will Pickleball Become an Olympic Sport? Its Current Global Status and Prospects for 2032 and 2036

"Pickleball is so popular, shouldn't it be in the Olympics?" — I get asked this a lot. Let me give you a fair answer based on the latest global situation.

Hi, I'm Coach Yoshi. I've played tennis for 15 years and have been playing pickleball since 2026. This is a common question I get from my students in lessons, so I'll fairly summarize the latest global situation. Pickleball is often called "the fastest-growing sport in the world." So, about the Olympics — to get straight to the point, it's not yet an Olympic sport. However, progress is definitely being made.

Conclusion: Not yet an Olympic sport (not in LA2028 either)

First, the facts. Pickleball is currently not an official Olympic sport. It is also not included in the events for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

One might think, "It originated in America, and with the Olympics in LA, it's likely to be included," but there are hurdles to Olympic inclusion that are separate from the sport's popularity itself.

Why isn't it included?

The biggest reason is the establishment of an international governing body (international federation).

To be included in the Olympics, a sport needs an international federation recognized by the IOC (International Olympic Committee). However, due to its rapid growth, multiple global governing bodies for pickleball have emerged and are in disarray. The IOC cannot move forward until there is a single, unified answer to "who represents the world" for the sport.

In 2026, movement towards unification began

There's been significant progress here. The two major global organizations, GPF (Global Pickleball Federation) and UWPF (another international governing body), have established a Unification Committee to create a single governing body. They aim for unification by July 2026.

This move to "create a single point of contact for the world" is the first and biggest step towards the Olympics.

Realistic targets are 2032 and 2036

So, when? According to expert media, the realistic targets are:

2032 Brisbane Games: The IOC is expected to select the Brisbane sports program between 2026 and 2027, which will be one of the turning points.
2036 Games: Many stakeholders believe that 2036 is a realistic target for its full debut as a formal, permanent event.

However, the IOC also indicated in 2026 that it is cautious about expanding the number of sports, and some believe the hurdles for additional inclusion have actually risen. In other words, 2032 Brisbane is seen as a "borderline case with a slim chance," and 2036 is the "main contender." We are currently in the midst of laying that groundwork.

Conditions for adoption: "Spread of popularity"

Inclusion in the Olympics also requires a widespread global player base. For a sport to be recognized as an international sport, it generally needs to be established in multiple continents and many countries (a rough guideline is around 75 countries across 4 continents for men, and 40 countries across 3 continents for women). While the GPF claims to have spread to over 70 countries across multiple continents (public figures vary by time), it has not yet reached the benchmark.

💡 Coach Yoshi's point Olympic inclusion isn't a "popularity contest" but rather about whether it's played "globally, systematically, and continuously." That's why global coordination is important, not just excitement in one country.

Meaning for Japan

Now, let's talk about Japan. The number of players is rapidly increasing domestically, and the development of governing bodies is also progressing (Latest Pickleball Situation in Japan).

The more realistic Olympic inclusion becomes globally, the more valuable it is to spread the sport in Japan now. If it becomes an Olympic sport in the future, those playing now might become the "pioneering generation in Japan." Don't you think that's an exciting prospect?

Summary

Pickleball is not yet an Olympic sport (not in LA2028 either).
The hurdle is the proliferation of international governing bodies. An IOC-recognized international federation is needed.
In 2026, GPF and UWPF began moving towards unification (targeting July).
Realistic targets are 2032 Brisbane or 2036.
Adoption requires global popularization. Spreading it in Japan now has significant meaning.

Knowing the global developments makes it feel like every shot I hit now is connected to the future. For the structure of the pro scene, please refer to What are MLP and PPA Tours?