Pickleball Olympic Recognition Journey: Pickleball took a major step toward Olympic recognition this June when a team from the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF), led by President Javier Regalado, visited Lausanne, Switzerland—the home of the Olympic movement. The group met with international sports officials to start the process of meeting Olympic requirements.
The GPF currently includes 67 national federations and is working to unite the global pickleball community. Although Olympic inclusion is still uncertain, this meeting shows progress toward making the sport part of future Games.
What It Takes to Join the Olympics
Olympic recognition is not simple. A sport must meet strict guidelines to even be considered.
“Typically, a sport needs at least 60 nationally approved federations across at least three continents to apply.
Then it needs one unified international federation, strict anti-doping protocols, and a global competition structure that meets Olympic standards. We’re not there yet,” (Brandon Mackie of Pickleheads).
The visit to Lausanne marked the first major move to meet these goals. The Global Pickleball Federation hopes this effort will bring more structure and legitimacy to the sport worldwide.
A Sign of Global Unity
For many years, pickleball has grown quickly but lacked one global leader. That’s beginning to change.
“For a sport that’s struggled with splintered leadership, this was a big moment,”. “The GPF now has 67 member countries and is pushing for unity across the global pickleball scene. They’re trying to build the kind of legitimacy the International Olympic Committee looks for.”(Brandon Mackie)
This progress could improve the sport’s chances of being selected by future Olympic hosts.
Possible Olympic Debut in 2032?
While pickleball is not expected to appear at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, the 2032 Games in Brisbane, Australia, are a possibility.
“Could it lead to Olympic inclusion by 2032 in Brisbane? Possibly. Especially since host cities can propose new sports for their own Games—just like Japan did with skateboarding in 2020. And Australia already has a strong pickleball scene,”(Brandon Mackie).
This gives hope that the sport might be added to the Olympic program in the near future, especially with local support in Australia.
Ongoing Efforts to Grow the Game
Brandon Mackie also mentioned the role of Pickleheads in helping the sport grow across the globe.
“Pickleball’s blown up in the U.S., courts are popping up across Europe and Asia, and we’ve even partnered with groups mapping courts in places like Ghana and Chile. It feels like a global sport already,”(Brandon Mackie).
He added,
“And for what it’s worth, we’re proud to be part of that journey. We’re working with GPF on a global court map and continue to support their mission to grow the game worldwide.”
What This Means for the Future
The meeting in Switzerland was a key sign that pickleball is making progress toward Olympic status. More work is still needed, including full compliance with international rules and doping standards. But this step shows a shared goal: to make pickleball a respected global sport.
Brandon Mackie summed up the moment by saying,
“What happened in Switzerland shows we’re at least headed in the right direction. I’ll keep watching—paddle in hand.”
News in Brief: Pickleball Olympic Recognition Journey
The Global Pickleball Federation visited Lausanne, Switzerland, in June 2025 to begin the Olympic recognition process. Led by President Javier Regalado, the GPF is working to meet the International Olympic Committee’s requirements. With 67 member countries and growing support, pickleball may join the Olympic Games as early as 2032.
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