Will Pickleball Be in the Olympics? Here’s Why Squash Made It To The 2028 Games

Will Pickleball Be in the Olympics? This question puzzles fans of the fast-growing paddle sport. While pickleball courts pop up worldwide, squash, a niche racket sport, will debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Why does squash get the Olympic nod while pickleball stays sidelined? The answer lies in the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) strict rules, pickleball’s global gaps, and squash’s strategic edge. This article unpacks the reasons in clear terms, compares the sports’ paths, and highlights events that could bring pickleball to the Olympic stage.

Understanding Olympic Inclusion Rules

To answer the question, we must first understand the IOC’s criteria for adding sports:

1. Global Reach: Men must play the sport in 75 countries across four continents, women in 40 countries across three.
2. Unified Governance: A single, IOC-recognized federation must enforce standard rules.
3. Youth Appeal: The sport should attract younger fans and align with Olympic values.
4. Logistics: It must fit the Olympic schedule and venues.
5. Competitive History: Global championships strengthen a sport’s case.

These rules explain why pickleball struggles while squash succeeds.

Why Squash Secured an Olympic Spot

Squash, played in a four-walled court, will debut in 2028 after years of effort. Here’s why it broke through:

• Worldwide Presence: Squash is played in 185 countries, surpassing the IOC’s 75/40 country rule. The World Squash Federation (WSF), founded in 1967, supports this global network.
• IOC Recognition: The WSF earned IOC recognition in 1997, ensuring standardized rules and championships since the 1970s.
• Relentless Advocacy: After failed bids for 2012, 2016, and 2020, the WSF’s campaigns, backed by players and media, won over the LA28 Organizing Committee.
• Host City Alignment: Squash fits Los Angeles’ focus on community sports and uses existing facilities, cutting costs.
• Gender Balance: Squash offers equal events for men and women, meeting IOC equity goals.

Squash’s niche status didn’t stop it, thanks to its established framework.

Why Pickleball Remains Excluded

Despite its popularity, pickleball faces hurdles:

1. Limited Global Spread: Pickleball is played in 78 countries (per the International Pickleball Federation, 2025), but it’s concentrated in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. It lacks traction in Africa and South America, missing the IOC’s participation threshold.
2. No IOC Recognition: The International Pickleball Federation (IPF) and World Pickleball Federation (WPF) merged in June 2025 into a World Pickleball Federation, but it’s not yet IOC-recognized.
3. Governance Challenges: Pre-2025, pickleball had fragmented governance and inconsistent rules (e.g., different balls or formats). Standardization is still in progress.
4. Timing Issue: The 2028 program was set in 2023, too soon for pickleball. The 2032 Brisbane Olympics are the earliest possibility, with 2036 more likely.
5. Rival Sports: Pickleball competes with cricket and esports for Olympic slots, unlike squash’s clear path.

The Truth Behind Pickleball’s Olympic Exclusion

The real barrier to inclusion is its incomplete global reach. Squash’s 185 member nations and IOC-recognized WSF gave it a decades-long advantage. Pickleball’s regional focus and young governance structure can’t yet match squash’s maturity, keeping it out of bounds despite its growth.

Pickleball’s Path Forward

Pickleball is gaining ground:

• Rapid Growth: U.S. participation soared 223.5% from 2020–2023, with youth programs spreading in Asia and Europe.
• Demonstration Events: Pickleball shone at the 2022 Maccabiah Games and 2023 African Games, boosting its IOC visibility.
• Governance Unity: The 2025 IPF-WPF merger is standardizing rules and competitions.
• Advocacy Push: USA Pickleball and the Global Pickleball Federation are driving global tournaments and media exposure.

These efforts could position pickleball for 2032 or 2036.

Key Events for Pickleball’s Olympic Journey

This table lists critical events that could help pickleball answer with a yes:

Event	Date	Description	Impact
IPF-WPF Merger	June 2025	Formed World Pickleball Federation.	Unified governance, aiding IOC recognition.
Maccabiah Games Demo	2022	Showcased as a demonstration sport.	Proved competitive appeal to IOC.
African Games Demo	2023	Featured at IOC-sanctioned event.	Grew visibility in Africa, a key region.
Global Youth Programs	2023–2025	Expanded youth leagues in Asia, Europe.	Meets IOC’s youth appeal focus.
World Pickleball Championships	2024–2025	Standardized global events.	Builds a strong competitive framework.
Potential 2028 Demo	2028 (Proposed)	Possible Los Angeles Olympics demo.	Could drive momentum for 2032.

Future Prospects

The 2032 Brisbane Games are the earliest realistic target, with 2036 more probable. A 2028 demonstration could accelerate progress, unlike squash’s direct inclusion. Pickleball must expand globally and secure IOC recognition to follow squash’s lead.

Conclusion

Squash’s mature governance and worldwide presence outpaced pickleball’s regional focus and recent unification. As pickleball grows and addresses these gaps, it could transform from a trending sport to an Olympic contender, potentially by 2032 or 2036.