Posted on 10/16/2023 12:46:46 PM PDT by Red Badger
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?
1-2-3 Red Light and Mother May I...........................
Beer Pong!........................
Disc Golf...................
“Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce, special orders won’t upset
us.” It’s catching on in Northeast Texas.
OK with me...
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