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Padel to be an Olympic sport by 2032.

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Introduction

“Is padel an Olympic sport?” Sports enthusiasts and professionals around the world are wondering about this as padel’s popularity continues to rise.

Padel has seen exponential growth over the last few years worldwide, especially in the UK.

  • 25 million+ active players in 110 countries
  • Over 40,000 padel courts globally (26% compound annual growth rate)
  • An additional 250 padel court facilities were built in the UK between 2022 and 2023 (116% increase in just 1 year!)

 

2025 is set to be the biggest year for padel yet.

This year, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) will establish a new Padel Advisory Group (PAG) to help guide the development of padel across the UK. This includes growing visibility of the sport and increasing the number of players and the number of padel courts.

The LTA and LTA Tennis Foundation have committed £6 million to 40 padel facility projects, funding 75 new courts, competition structures, performance programs, and coach development.

 

The first phase of the strategy, running from 2024 to the end of 2026, aims to:

  • Boost visibility: Raise public awareness and participation of padel from 20% to 40% and interest in playing from 7.5% to 15%.
  • Expand player base: Increase annual players from 129,000 to 400,000 and monthly players from 65,000 to 200,000.
  • Develop infrastructure: Grow the number of padel courts from 350 to 1,000.
  • Strengthen coaching: Expand the padel coach and activator workforce from 40 to 700.
  • Enhance performance: Support 10 players in reaching the world’s top 200 and 2 players in breaking into the top 100, inspiring the next generation of padel enthusiasts.

 

How will padel secure a spot at the Olympic Games?

For a sport to become an Olympic game, it must meet the following criteria issued by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

1. Comply with International Federation & Ethical Requirements:

For padel to be considered for the Olympics, it must have an international governing body that regulates the sport globally. Additionally, this body must meet the IOC’s ethical standards and actively participate in tournaments and events.

✅ Padel fulfils this requirement through the International Padel Federation (FIP), which oversees the sport’s global regulation while adhering to IOC guidelines.

2. Compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code:

Another key factor in gaining the padel Olympics recognition is to follow and implement the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA).

✅ Under the FIP oversight, all professional padel players adhere to WADA guidelines, meeting this key IOC requirement.

3. No Motor Equipment Allowed:

Sports selected for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics must not involve motorised equipment or machines.

✅ Padel meets this requirement, as it is played solely with a racket and ball.

4. Minimum Countries Padel is Played:

To be included in the Olympics, a sport must be played in at least 75 countries across four continents for men and 40 countries across three continents for women. This remains the biggest challenge for padel.

❌ Despite its presence on almost every continent, it has yet to meet the required number of participating countries, particularly in the men's category.

 

Once padel’s reach meets the requirement criteria, it is anticipated to feature in the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee aims to streamline the inclusion of new sports under internationally recognised federations. While padel has yet to meet all the required criteria, it has gained recognition through its Association of IOC Recognised International Sport (ARISF) status.

It is worth considering the highly competitive nature of Olympic selection, with 206 countries and 40 sports vying for inclusion. The IOC requires approval at least seven years before a sport can make its Olympic debut. Since padel has not received this authorisation, it will not be part of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

 

Padel Court Facilities by Losberger De Boer

As padel continues to grow worldwide, Losberger De Boer is here to support the momentum with state-of-the-art padel court facilities to elevate your club's offering. Whether it’s a standard setup or a custom design to fit a unique space, our venues are built for durability and the best playing experience.

 

Key features of our padel facilities:

  • Aluminium, Steel or Gulam frame options
  • 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 court layouts (But we can build your facility as big as you need)
  • Meets building & fire regulations
  • Constructed in just a few days

With its expanding global presence, strong community focus, and thriving professional scene, padel is set to be the next big racquet sport.

 

Benefits of padel facilities to your local community?

  • Promotes community engagement
  • Low maintenance & cost-effective
  • Weather resistant, with all-year playability
  • Investment potential for businesses & community projects
  • Therefore increased tourism
  • Development of competitive leagues & tournaments

 

Final Thoughts

Bringing padel to the widest audience and supporting the best British players will help grow the sport and inspire a new generation of athletes.

We recognise the impact of accessible, high-quality facilities in driving this growth. By providing innovative, durable, and adaptable padel courts, we aim to support the sport’s expansion from grassroots participation to elite competition.

Tom Murray, LTA Head of padel, said, “The strategy and tactics that we’ve put in place will truly help to open padel up to many more people across the country, with more funding, facilities and coaches ensuring that the sport is accessible, welcoming, enjoyable and inspiring.”

Find out more about our padel court facilities here.