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Why isn't Netball an Olympic Sport?

Updated on September 29, 2020

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The Olympics Are The Pinnacle Of A Sports Persons Career

The Olympics are, without doubt, the pinnacle to every sportsmen and sports women's careers. Many athletes dedicate most of their teenage and early adult lives, to be able to have at least one golden chance of representing their country at the Olympics. One chance at the Olympics for most but, some will maybe get a few chances if they are lucky. For some sport's the Olympics are the highlight of the 4 year cycle, yet for some they can't even get an invite. Winning an Olympics event can make funding for any given sport easier to obtain, cycling for example has major financial support away from the Olympics but, it was the Olympics which made the event so popular. Field Hockey is another sport which has seen an increase in finacial backers and playing numbers have increased since being included in the biggest sporting event.


Why Aren't All Sports Included In The Olympics?

Financial constraints across the globe, mean the hosts of the Olympics can have a major influence on sports included as a one off. One sport which can find itself very unlucky, not to be included so far, is Netball. Netball as a worldwide marketed sport has one major issue. This problem could be major big factor in its omission, as It is a single sex sport and predominantly aimed at women. Mixed Netball is allowed at schools up to the age of 11, although not common as boys tend to be pushed towards football (soccer), thereafter it must only be played by members of the same sex. There are some Men’s teams being developed but these are few and far between so, as yet the surge in men playing Netball isn't happening. Most men, if playing a ball sport with their hands would prefer to play Basketball, volleyball or Korfball. Korfball seems to have already stolen a march on Netball by insisting it is played by mixed teams. Although in reverse, it can be played by single sex teams.

How Big Does Netball Need To Be, To Get Noticed?

At the time of writing, in England alone, there are 75,000 members of the English Netball Association. Every week, up to 1 million women and girls play the sport across the country. The popularity of Netball in England has risen by 5% in the last 12 months alone. That is just in England. If you take in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland you would be nearer 1.5 million playing the game every week. Yet still it cannot get into the Olympics. Its popularity in the U.K. can be attributed to the Netball Super league and its coverage on Sky TV. Worldwide though it is estimated that in excess of 20 million players are actively playing netball each year.

Why Is Netball A Minority Sport?

As a 'minority' sport it cannot be included unless the host nation request it and have the funds to support the event but, Netball is welcome at The Commonwealth Games. Within the Commonwealth it is a big sport and has been included in the sports program, since 1998. Previous winners are Australia, twice and New Zealand. Both England and Jamaica have also been placed in the first 3. Sri Lanka are the current Asian champions.

Who Should Netball Seek Help From To Get An Invitation?

It is staggering that Netball is still overlooked and a movement to get it included in The Olympic schedule for London 2012 failed. Subsequent Olympics have also overlooked Netball so it doesn't appear to be high on any sporting nations agenda to get it included. Although womens Boxing has succeeded in being included at the Olympics. Since 1904, womens Boxing has not been welcomed to the Olympic bosom but, at the London 2012 Olympics they were included with 3 belts up for contention. I strongly believe over the next 6 years we will see the scale of the Olympics being reduced following the worldwide Coronovirus pandemic, as host nations try to recover. Netball will now find it even more difficult to get an invitation to the big event but it shouldn't stop trying.

Maybe the World Netball Associations should speak with the Boxing Authorities to see how they succeed, where Netball fail. It is time to put serious efforts into putting Netball onto the World Olympic stage.

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