USA Today claims that the popularity of softball at the Olympic Games fluctuates since host cities are now permitted to include sports in their schedules according to regulations set out by the IOC. According to the NBC, the IOC must support the host city’s decision if they decide to add a sport, but there isn’t enough interest in a particular event, like softball. Polo is expensive and requires complex logistics to organize, hence its omission.
One of the poshest sports around, polo has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, but hasn’t been a part of the Olympics since 1936. The International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) oversees the sport, organizing the biennial King’s Cup World Championship. Sepak Takraw is not an Olympic sport but has featured in the Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games. Today, the sport is popular in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada. The World Lacrosse organization oversees the sport with popular tournaments such as the World Lacrosse Championship and NCAA Lacrosse Championship (college level). While American football is not an Olympic sport, it has made appearances as a demonstration sport in past Olympic Games.
List of non-Olympic sports
Cricket is the most surprising name on this list, often considered the second most popular sport globally, with over 2.5 billion fans. The batting sport was invented by English royalty in the 16th century, and has since become the premier sport in many countries. Namely, countries like Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are deeply involved in cricket, participating in various international and national tournaments. Today’s most popular cricket events are the ICC World Cup, the T20 World Cup, and the Indian Premier League.
The sport, similar to tennis featured only once at the 1900 Games in Paris but failed to remain popular as an Olympic sport. However, there were demonstrations in 1924 (Paris), 1968 (Mexico City) and 1992 Games in Barcelona. The International Netball Federation governs netball, with major competitions including the Netball World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. The International Federation of Pickleball governs the sport, with tournaments like the blog US Open Pickleball Championships and the USAPA National Championships.
Roller Skating
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- It is played in a four-walled court and is popular on both a professional and amateur level for its fitness benefits.
- Squash, a fast-paced racket sport played in an enclosed court, originated in England in the 19th century.
- It was the first Olympic event in which women participated and it featured only once during the 1900 Olympics in Paris.
- With the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics’s onset, many sports are gaining immense fame and recognition globally.
- A very popular sport in Asia, Australia, and England, cricket hasn’t been accepted in the Olympic Games yet.
- Jump into our Non-Olympic Sports List, sorted by popularity for your pleasure.
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The sport was also included in the 1896, 1900, and 1904 Summer Olympics, but various issues, such as a lack of entries, saw it removed soon after. Lacrosse, a contact team sport with immense history, is another shocking name on this list. With early history dating back to 1100 AD, it is considered one of the oldest organized sports in North America.
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Demonstration summer sports
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Polo is very popular in Argentina, Australia, Spain, France, and South Africa. The schedule conflict is the primary bone of contention between the sport of baseball and the IOC. Since the summer is a crucial time for Major League Baseball (MLB) outside of a regular 162-game season, players who get qualified to take part in the Olympics will have to leave their teams to play in the summer.
Lacrosse, a fast and dynamic team sport using a small rubber ball and long-handled stick, has origins in Native American tribes, dating back to the 12th century. In addition, athletes must comply with the anti-doping laws that are specified in the Olympic Charter. Thus, their national federations must perform studies and tests necessary to avoid the use of forbidden substances. In this article, we’ll tell you what non-Olympic sports exist today and why they’ve not been admitted into or even eliminated from the competition.