For several years, the cheerleading community has been in turmoil over a big question: will cheerleading one day be an Olympic discipline ? Rumors are multiplying, and each piece of news raises hopes among athletes, coaches, and cheerleader parents.
International recognition in progress
In 2019, a major step forward was taken: the Canadian Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee provisionally recognized cheerleading as a sport. This was a huge victory for the cheer community, which was already hoping that the sport could make its debut at the Paris 2024 Games. Even a “Future Cheerleading Olympique 2024” jersey was created (and was a huge success), symbolizing this collective hope.
However, in 2021, despite this full recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), cheerleading was not included in the Paris Games. A disappointment for many, but a sign that the journey is not over.
Then, the hope was for LA (USA) 2028 and once again the disappointment was total. Especially since cheerleading is a major sport in the United States. The question that remains... Will we be in Brisbane (Austalie) 2032? All hopes are allowed
Why isn't cheerleading in the Olympics yet?
Even with official recognition, becoming an Olympic sport is a complex process. Several criteria must be met, including the sport being present in a large number of countries, a well-established federation and participation in recognized international competitions. Cheerleading, represented by the International Cheerleading Federation (ICU), has managed to tick several of these boxes.
But challenges remain. One of the biggest hurdles is standardizing the rules internationally. Each country has its own methods of judging and competing, making it difficult to achieve the standardization needed for the Olympics. In addition, the sport must find its unique "wow factor" that would set it apart from other sports already at the Games.
A promising future for cheerleading at the Olympics
Although cheerleading will not be part of the Paris 2024 Games, all is not lost. With each edition of the Summer Games, a new application can be submitted, and the cheer community remains hopeful. Countries like the United States, where cheerleading was born, and Canada, play a major role in this international promotion.
The road to the Olympics may still be long, but one thing is for sure: cheerleading continues to gain visibility and credibility on the international stage. It is therefore possible that one day, our athletes will find themselves performing pyramids and stunts on the biggest sporting stage in the world.
For athletes and parents, this hope continues to stir hearts, as Olympic cheerleading no longer seems like a mere utopia, but a dream that grows closer every year.
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