Sports enthusiasts and professionals worldwide are increasingly asking themselves this question now that padel is rapidly gaining popularity. Inthe Netherlands, too, the sport is booming, with the number of players and courts growing rapidly. But does padel also have a chance of securing a place on the world's biggest sporting stage: the Olympic Games?
Explosive growth of padel in the Netherlands
Padel is no longer a niche sport. There are now more than 25 million active players in 110 countries worldwide. The infrastructure is growing along with it: there are already more than 40,000 padel courts, with an annual growth rate of 26%. The sport is also on the rise in the Netherlands: there are now more than 500 padel courts and hundreds of clubs offering padel.
PadelNL, part of the KNLTB, is actively committed to further expanding the sport. The goal is to increase the reach, visibility, and professionalization of padel—both at the recreational and elite levels.
Investments in Dutch padel
The KNLTB is investing heavily in the infrastructure, coach development, and competition structure of padel. More and more official competitions are being organized, and interest is also growing rapidly in schools and sports clubs.
Goals for the coming years:
- Increase awareness: introduce more Dutch people to padel.
- Expand the player base: from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of active players.
- More infrastructure: expansion of the number of courts through collaboration with clubs, municipalities, and investors.
- Strengthen coaching: more training courses and certified padel coaches.
- Promote top-level sport: bring Dutch players to the international top.
How does a sport become Olympic?
To participate in the Olympic Games, a sport must meet the criteria of the International Olympic Committee (IOC):
- International federation & ethics:
Padel meets these criteria through theInternational Padel Federation (FIP), which regulates the sport worldwide and cooperates with the IOC. - Anti-doping rules (WADA):
Padel adheres to the anti-doping rules of theWorld Anti-Doping Authority through the FIP. - No motorized vehicles:
Padel is played exclusively with a racket and a ball. - Global distribution:
This is the biggest hurdle. For men, the sport must be played in at least75 countries on 4 continents, and for women in 40 countries on 3 continents. Although padel is present on almost every continent, this criterion has not yet been met – especially on the men's side.
What about 2028 and 2032?
Participation in the Olympic Games requires approval from the IOC at least seven years in advance. Because padel did not receive that approval in time, it will not be part of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
However, there is hope. Padel has now been granted ARISF status (Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federations), an important step towards Olympic inclusion. If global popularity continues to grow and the sport continues to develop, participation in the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane is a realistic goal.
Conclusion
Padel is making impressive strides in the Netherlands and worldwide. The sport already meets almost all of the IOC's criteria, with one exception: the minimum number of countries where padel is played at a high level. If that is also achieved, there is a good chance that padel will finally become an Olympic sport in 2032.