Sports That Are Surprisingly Not In The Summer Olympics

With the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics's onset, many sports are gaining immense fame and recognition globally. The Summer Olympics, taking place every four years since 1896, is a testament to athletic skill, allowing athletes to compete in various sports to find the best. Sports like shooting, fencing, badminton, and athletics have been around for decades, marking their spot in the Games of Olympiad.

While many major sports across the globe are part of the Summer Olympics, some surprising names still stand out. Whether it is the famous mental challenge of chess or the immensely popular sport of cricket, many viable sports aren't part of the Olympics. This article looks at some of the most popular sports surprisingly not part of the Summer Olympics.

Cricket

Cricket is the most surprising name on this list, often considered the second most popular sport globally, with over 2.5 billion fans. The batting sport was invented by English royalty in the 16th century, and has since become the premier sport in many countries. Namely, countries like Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are deeply involved in cricket, participating in various international and national tournaments. Today's most popular cricket events are the ICC World Cup, the T20 World Cup, and the Indian Premier League. The sport was also included in the 1896, 1900, and 1904 Summer Olympics, but various issues, such as a lack of entries, saw it removed soon after. That said, Cricket is set to make a comeback for the LA 2028 Olympics.

Squash

Squash is a racket-and-ball sport known for its high athleticism and fun playability. It is played in a four-walled court and is popular on both a professional and amateur level for its fitness benefits. Invented in the 19th century when kids in London schools started playing with balls indoors, the sport quickly boomed in the 20th century. Currently, over 20 million people play squash regularly across the globe. That said, Squash has never been included in a Summer Olympics. Thankfully, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recently announced that it will be added to the Olympic roster, starting with the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.

Lacrosse

Lacrosse, a contact team sport with immense history, is another shocking name on this list. With early history dating back to 1100 AD, it is considered one of the oldest organized sports in North America. The sport involved two teams with a lacrosse stick used to pass, carry, and shoot a ball into the opposing goal and win a point. As of today, people play the game in various formats, including field lacrosse, box lacrosse, and intercrosse. World Lacrosse, the highest governing body for the sport, maintains the rules for most formats.

Lacrosse participated in the Olympics as a medal sport in 1904 and 1908 and as a demonstration event in some future events. The IOC subsequently removed it from the Olympic program in 1952. However, like cricket and squash, lacrosse is set to take part in the 2028 LA Olympics in the lacrosse sixes format.

Chess

Chess is one of the world’s most famous board games, involving immense mental skill and calculation. It is played on an 8x8 grid with white and black sides, each with 16 pieces. Early chess scripts date back to the seventh century, so this game of the mind has an immense history. Today, over 500 million people play it regularly, whether online or in person.

Despite a recent surge in interest, the game is not part of the Summer Olympics for various reasons. The most prominent is that the IOC does not include board games in the Olympics, as they have a different type of athleticism than traditional Olympic sports. While it is true that chess games require mental exertion and would need minimal infrastructure, it is unlikely that the Olympics will add the sport anytime soon. Thankfully, chess has its own version of the Olympics, known as the Chess Olympiad, a biennial tournament in which teams compete to represent their nations.

Darts

Often seen in bars and pubs, Darts is a competitive “dart-throwing” sport played worldwide. The sport involves two or more players throwing small pointed darts at a round target, with different points assigned depending on where one’s dart hits. The sport has records dating back to the fourteenth century and was later allowed in pubs, after which its popularity skyrocketed. As of 2024, there are various international dart tournaments, such as the World Darts Championship, World Grand Prix, and Premier League, primarily managed by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).

While fans often push for darts to be added to the Olympics due to its competitive nature and low infrastructure requirement, the sport has yet to be part of any Summer Olympic Games. Many people believe the sport’s image as a pub game is why it does not have the same recognition as traditional Olympic Sports. That said, the World Darts Federation (WDF) is constantly applying with the IOC to add darts and aims to make it an Olympic sport by the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

Roller Skating

Roller skating involves wearing shoes with wheels to travel across surfaces. Using these wheels, roller skaters can partake in various sports such as speed skating, roller hockey, roller derby, and figure skating, each with its own set of skills and rules. The concept of roller skating initially emerged in the 1700s as a form of dance but quickly garnered popularity in the sporting world. It is now famous as a recreational activity, with people worldwide often roller skating for fun and travel. The sport is also popular professionally, with various governing bodies such as World Skate, which boasts over 130 national federations.

Considering its similarity to ice skating, a long-standing Olympic sport, it is surprising that the non-ice version is not seen in the Olympics today. While it was a demonstration sport in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the sport never gained traction, even with attempts by governing bodies. However, with the return of skateboarding, another roller sport, in the 2024 Paris Olympics, many believe the future of roller skating in the Olympics is positive. Moreover, with its various forms and sub-sports, it can open a set of new individual and team events for athletes across the globe to showcase their skills.

Wrapping Up

Each and every one of these sports is full of competition, skill, and history that justify their spot in the Olympics. Whether held back due to a lack of popularity or stigma, many are set to join in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, showing the prominent efforts of fans and governing bodies. Moreover, with new sports added regularly, such as breakdancing in the 2024 Paris Olympics and E-sports in the Olympic Esports Series, fans can expect most of these fantastic sports to join the Games of Olympiad sooner or later.