So here’s one more thing to consider when evaluating the 2024 Olympics… the absence of pickleball.
Yeah, I know. I’m disappointed as well.
If you’re like me, you turned around and noticed that suddenly, people everywhere were playing this unusual game. According to APP, the Association of Pickleball Professionals, 19% of adult Americans played pickleball at least once from August 2022 to August 2023. The report didn’t share how many of them gave up after their first match.
Where did pickleball originate? I’m glad you asked. Retirepedia reports that pickleball began when three dads from Bainbridge Island, Washington invented a new game to amuse their children. They lowered a badminton net, tried a wiffle ball but settled on a Cosom Fun Ball. They created paddles from plywood from a neighbor’s shed. Legend has it that a dog named Pickles used to steal the game ball so they named the game after him. Others claim the game creators combined various sports into one which reminded them of a pickle boat crew where participants are selected from the unchosen oarsmen of other boats. My theory is that they first played the game using a pickle for the ball. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion.
Speaking of opinions on Pickleball, Bill Gates once shared, “Everyone from the super young to the super old can take part. It takes minutes to learn the basics, games are short, and all you need is a net, paddle, and ball to get started. It doesn’t take much skill to hit the ball, either, because it doesn’t move as fast as a tennis ball. The best thing about Pickleball, however, is that it’s just super fun.”
Even though I often ignore the ramblings of PC users, Gates does seem to have a point about Pickleball. It is now played in over 60 countries around the world. However, despite its growing popularity, Pickleball is seen more as a recreational sport and its global recognition still leaves something to be desired. This may be why it’s not a current Olympic sport.
Will pickleball make it to the 2028 Olympics? Probably not. What about 2032 or 2036? Only time will tell. Maybe if it didn’t have such a stupid name…
*Image courtesy of Amada Ma
JohnJFrady.com 