Netballers launch campaign to make their sport an Olympic sport
Seven in ten people think Netball should be included in the Olympics, according to new research for a campaign calling for the sport to stop being overlooked by the International Olympic Committee.
Well over one million women play netball each week in the UK making it one of the country’s most popular team sports, but it is not just women who think it should be played at the Games.
The poll of a nationally-representative sample of 1,009 people for leading online retailer Netball UK found 73 per cent think Netball should be a sport played at the Olympics – 74 per cent of men and 72 per cent of women.
Now, with just over a month until the 2024 Opening Ceremony, netballers are being asked to show they back the campaign, which is asking ‘Who No Netball?’, by signing a petition which will be used to show the strength of support for the country’s most popular women’s team sport.
The petition is available now and can be signed at www.whynonetball.com
Among those supporting the campaign…
Lisa Alexander, former Australian Diamonds Head Coach: “Olympic Status matters to our sport as it would increase the visibility of our great game to a world of new people and increase participation and engagement. It is such a great team sport, primarily for women and girls, thus improving the status of women and girls in Olympic and World Sport.”
Karen Greig, Head Coach and Franchise Director of four-times Netball Super League champions Manchester Thunder: “In an era where netball is flourishing and we are seeing the game grow, with athletes pushing themselves to the edge of physical boundaries, the excitement in the international game couldn’t be higher. This should be rewarded on the world sporting stage.”
Ryan Allan, President of the England’s Men & Mixed Netball Association: “Netball embodies the core values of the Olympics: teamwork, inclusivity, and competitiveness. Having netball in the Olympics would significantly increase the sport’s visibility and encourage global participation. Ideally, I would like to see traditional netball in the Olympics, with both women’s and men’s teams competing in parallel competitions. However, if netball has to adapt to gain entry with mixed competitions, it is in a very good position to do so.
“I am committed to doing everything we can to get netball into the Olympics. The decisions for 2032 are not as far away as we think, so the work needs to start now. I fully support the journey towards this goal, as it will not only increase the exposure of our sport but also have a significant and positive impact on global participation.”
Lindsey Chapman, netball presenter, commentator and reporter: “Netball is a fast-paced, dynamic, smart, hugely competitive team sport. It’s female led which is a huge plus, but is also played by mens and mixed teams across the world. It’s a sport people can play all their lives and at a range of levels.
“It should be in the Olympics because, as we’ve seen at World Cup and Commonwealth Games, it’s played in an exciting format that’s inclusive and accessible. It’s also a brilliant spectator sport.”
Despite being played by 20 million people in more than 80 countries, netball has constantly been overlooked for inclusion by the International Olympic Committee, despite efforts from the sports’ world governing body.
Latest efforts focus on the possibility of inclusion in the 2032 Olympic Games which are due to take place in Australia where netball is also the biggest team sport for women and girls.
Debbie Hallas, co-owner of four-time Super League champions Manchester Thunder and managing director of Netball UK who are organising the campaign, said: “This summer, when many women, men, girls and boys who play netball week-in, week-out watch the sporting action in Paris, we think they will ask why netball is not one of the sports being played.
“We think it’s time that changed. We understand why netball has been turned down by the International Olympic Committee in the past, but we hope they know recognise that more people from all ages, genders and countries are competing, and they deserve to be able to aspire to be Olympians and compete for Gold in Australia in 2032.
“I hope the strength of feeling our poll and this campaign demonstrates means we can get our game to The Games.”
I am still at a lost for words to understand, why this game that is always in #TOP3, in terms of bums on seats, and top viewing figures, in every Commonwealth Games since #2010Dehli; how is this even a petition conversation? If Netball derives from Basketball, and Basketball is there, with the growing figures in Netball for females and males; this IS; at least a #TopTable conversation.
The first investor to really #SeeUsNow, and allow us on this, so called level playing field, with same backing as other sports, who don’t have, or never have come to the table with the numbers we can boast in this #BeautifulGame; is backing a sure thing!! They just need to be smart and get in first #NetballOnTheRise