Replies

Big fan of Pickleball, a sport that’s a big win for middle age and senior racket enthusiasts who, say, don’t have the physical strength/stamina to compete in tennis anymore.

But I think the big reason why pickleball was not chosen for the Olympics was hinted it in the story: it doesn’t tick the box for “global appeal”.

Here in Japan where I play twice a week there are probably only 2,000 players across the whole country. The first Pan-Asian Pickleball tournament was hosted two weeks in Taiwan with 200 players paying to compete. Strongest contingents (according to a friend who competed there) were Taiwan and Singapore. Thai and Indonesia also competed well. Japan and Korea were last — the talent isn’t there yet.

Meanwhile there are roughly 5 million + players in America and the sport continues to grow in terms of U.S. televised matches, youtubes, and other publicity.

Maybe somebody has a line on Pickleball in Europe?

But the writing is on the wall: until Pickleball becomes a more “international” sport in terms of active players, it will not be chosen for an Olympics.

That’s my thinking. What say yee, fellow FReepers?