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Original poster

To ask why netball isn't an Olympic sport?

71 replies

Catspaws · 15/04/2018 10:17

Have really got into it watching the commonwealth games and can't understand why it's not an Olympic sport!

It's the most widely-played women's sport in most commonwealth countries AND it would be a really democratic one to promote and encourage because it doesn't need lots of expensive equipment.

I'd love to see it at the olympics, it's been my favourite thing to watch the last week!

OP posts:
SunnyCoco · 15/04/2018 15:10

It is recognised by the Olympic committee but the problem (as they see it) is that it’s only really played within commonwealth countries

I agree with you it would be great to see it grow and develop globally . It’s been fantastic this week

blackteasplease · 15/04/2018 15:18

You are probably quite right objectively. Maybe it's becyase so many women have been traumatised by school netball! (not meant seriously!)

WashingMatilda · 15/04/2018 17:02

I've never ever even thought of this but you are so right!
I kind of see the point about 'only being played in commonwealth countries' but surely sports like Archery, Ice Hockey etc are just as niche?

I'd hate to think it has anything to do with it being a female sport, but.....Sad

AndhowcouldIeverrefuse · 15/04/2018 17:07

Because it's played mainly by women.

Nothing more niche than some of the winter sports subcategories where literally only a handful of countries take part. And there they are, churning out medals.

Didiplanthis · 15/04/2018 17:07

I was wondering that - It's been brillant to watch - never thought about it since leaving school 25 years ago until this week ! Its cheap and accessible with not overly complicated rules but a is fast and exciting sport.

whileStatement · 15/04/2018 17:08

What does democracy have anything to do with cheap equipment?

I suspect that it's struggled to be included because it's shit as a spectator sport, doesn't attract funding or sponsorship and isn't played much outside of the Commonwealth.

araiwa · 15/04/2018 17:11

Are there any male only sports?

Netball is exclusively female

GinAndToast · 15/04/2018 17:12

The US basically. They have been rubbish at even trying to implement the sport over their country.

Think of the last Olympic where the times of some competitions were changed to appeal to the US market. Whoever hosts it bows down to the US 🙄

The fact it is all women is actually in its favour as it would make the gender balance at the Olympic more even, which I have heard of as a massive positive.

CoffeeAndToffee · 15/04/2018 17:13

Netball is not exclusively female. Just ask the England men's team.

thanksamillion · 15/04/2018 17:14

Like PPs I think it's because it isn't international enough. The BBC coverage in the early stages was pretty poor so hopefully the gold will raise the profile a bit more.

Considering how many women now play netball regularly and how successful back to netball has been I think they've missed a trick.

digestOfDigest · 15/04/2018 17:14

The fact it is all women is actually in its favour

Are there any men-only events?

SmilingButClueless · 15/04/2018 17:16

Possibly the issue is that the teams don’t play in very small bikinis, unlike the women’s teams for the Olympic sport of beach volleyball, which is of course a popular sport for every country in the world to play...

steppemum · 15/04/2018 17:16

I am pretty sure that there was acomment on the radio recently and it said that all olympic games have to be male and female, they don't have any games which are sex specific. So as netball is primarily a women's game, and there isn't a complete male equivalent it doesn't get olympic status.

I am only quoting half heard fact though!

spanky2 · 15/04/2018 17:19

Because as soon as you catch the ball you have to stop and throw it to someone else!Grin

Spangles1963 · 15/04/2018 17:19

Because it's practically always a female sport? Just saying......

Taffeta · 15/04/2018 17:20

shit as a spectator sport

Eh????

I agree it bollocks. Many Olympic “sports” are ridiculously inaccessible to many except the rich ( see water sports, winter sports etc)

SoapOnARoap · 15/04/2018 17:21

Because it’s played predominantly by Commonwealth countries only. Similar to why cricket isn’t an Olympic sport

50ShadesOfEarlGrey · 15/04/2018 17:23

I heard this being asked just the other day, apparently the Olymics will only allow sports that are played by both sexes, and netball is considered (rightly or wrongly) a Female only sport.

RobinHumphries · 15/04/2018 17:24

Squash is another sport which isn’t recognised at the olympics.

Happygummibear · 15/04/2018 17:25

It will be because there are primarily only female teams. Until there are more male teams in all countries it won't become an Olympic support.

I always wondered why ballroom and Latin dancing hasn't been made into an Olympic sport.. we have ice dancing ( taken from ballroom dancing) and rhythmic gymnastics.

dementedma · 15/04/2018 17:25

because it's utterly boring.
And yes, I have played it.

TheLastSaola · 15/04/2018 17:27

I think it’s a fantastic sport, but it really isn’t international enough.

All vaguely competitive international teams are at the Commonwealths, and given there would only be one GB team, you can see that there isn’t anywhere near enough teams.

It’s a shame.

Doofenschmirtz · 15/04/2018 17:33

Ski-jumping used to be a men-only event in the Winter Olympics.

Women were only allowed to start competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics, so it's not necessarily the case that both sexes have to be equally included in particular sports .

TheLastSaola · 15/04/2018 17:34

Being played by both sexes is an issue now - though in the past many sports have been admitted for only one sex, and there’s no move to make rhythmic gymnastics or synchro swimming open for men.

But given so many sports have bigger fields for men, I don’t think that’s a complete obstacle. It would make it easier to reach 50/50 participants which would make the IOC very happy.

Heratnumber7 · 15/04/2018 17:41

Bowling is also a Commonwealth Games sport that's not in the Olympics. There are others too, but my mind has gone blank at the moment.