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?
“Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce, special orders won’t upset
us.” It’s catching on in Northeast Texas.