Cheerleading is an amazing sport! It’s not just about yelling and pom-poms. These athletes are incredibly strong and skilled. They perform incredible stunts, flips, and dances that are both powerful and beautiful.
You’d think with how popular and impressive cheerleading is, it would be in the Olympics, right? Well, sadly, cheerleading won’t be part of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. This is a big disappointment for many cheerleaders and fans.
So, why isn’t cheerleading an Olympic sport? Let’s try to understand why.
Olympic Selection Process is Tough
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has strict rules for adding new sports to the Olympics. To be considered, a sport must meet several criteria, such as global popularity, gender equality, and cost-effectiveness. While cheerleading has made progress in these areas, it still faces challenges.
For example, cheerleading needs to show that it’s widely practiced around the world. Although it’s popular in countries like the United States, Canada, and Japan, it’s still growing in other regions. The IOC also looks for sports that are easy to understand and have clear scoring systems. Cheerleading’s scoring can be complex, which might make it harder for new viewers to follow. Judges evaluate routines based on difficulty, execution, creativity, and synchronization, which can be subjective and confusing for those unfamiliar with the sport.
Additionally, the IOC prefers sports that have a strong international governing body. While the International Cheer Union (ICU) has been working to standardize rules and promote cheerleading globally, it’s still a relatively young organization compared to others like FIFA (for soccer) or FIBA (for basketball). This lack of long-established governance can make it harder for cheerleading to gain the IOC’s trust.
Competition from Other Sports
The LA28 Olympics will feature five new sports: baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse, and squash. These sports were chosen because they align with American culture and have a strong global following. For example, cricket has over a billion fans worldwide, and flag football is considered a safer version of American football. Baseball and softball are returning to the Olympics after being absent in 2020, and lacrosse is making a comeback after over a century.
Cheerleading, while popular, didn’t make the cut this time. The IOC likely felt that the other sports would attract more viewers and fit better with the overall theme of the games. This doesn’t mean cheerleading isn’t exciting or worthy—it just means it faces tough competition. The IOC also considers factors like TV ratings, sponsorship opportunities, and the ability to sell tickets. Sports like cricket and baseball have a proven track record of drawing large audiences, which makes them more appealing to the IOC.
Cheerleading’s Image and Perception
One of the biggest hurdles cheerleading faces is how people perceive it. Many still see it as a sideline activity at football or basketball games, rather than a competitive sport. This outdated view overlooks the incredible athleticism and skill required to perform cheer routines. Athletes train just as hard as gymnasts or swimmers, but the sport struggles to shake off its “sideline” image.
Additionally, cheerleading isn’t always recognized as a sport under laws like Title IX in the United States, which affects its funding and support. This lack of recognition makes it harder for cheerleading to gain the credibility it needs to join the Olympics. Many schools and organizations treat cheerleading as an extracurricular activity rather than a competitive sport, which limits opportunities for athletes to train and compete at a high level.
Another challenge is the perception of cheerleading as a female-dominated sport. While the IOC values gender equality, cheerleading is often seen as less inclusive for male athletes. In reality, many men participate in cheerleading, especially in co-ed teams, but the stereotype persists. Changing these perceptions will take time and effort from the cheerleading community.
Road to Olympic Recognition
Cheerleading has come a long way in recent years. In 2021, the International Cheer Union (ICU) was fully recognized by the IOC, which was a huge step forward. This recognition means cheerleading can now apply to be part of the Olympics. However, being recognized doesn’t guarantee a spot—it just means the sport is eligible.
The ICU is working hard to meet the IOC’s requirements. They’re promoting cheerleading globally, standardizing rules, and ensuring safety for athletes. For example, the ICU has introduced safety guidelines for stunts and tumbling to reduce the risk of injuries. They’re also working to make cheerleading more accessible by offering training programs and resources for coaches and athletes in developing countries.
Another important step is increasing the number of countries that participate in cheerleading competitions. The ICU hosts the World Cheerleading Championships every year, with teams from over 100 countries. However, the sport still needs to grow in regions like Africa and the Middle East to meet the IOC’s global popularity requirement.
What’s Next for Cheerleading?
Even though cheerleading won’t be in the LA28 Olympics, there’s still hope for the future. The next opportunity could be the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane, Australia. By then, cheerleading might have grown even more popular and met all the IOC’s criteria. The ICU is already planning to submit another application for the 2032 Games, and they’re confident that cheerleading will eventually make it to the Olympic stage.
In the meantime, cheerleading fans can support the sport by watching competitions, sharing videos online, and encouraging more countries to adopt it. Social media has played a huge role in showcasing cheerleading’s athleticism and creativity, with viral videos of incredible stunts and routines reaching millions of viewers. This kind of exposure can help change the way people think about cheerleading and build support for its inclusion in the Olympics.
Conclusion
Cheerleading is a thrilling and demanding sport that deserves more recognition. While it won’t be part of the LA28 Olympics, it’s closer than ever to achieving its Olympic dream. The sport just needs a little more time to grow, gain support, and prove itself on the global stage. So, keep cheering, keep supporting, and who knows? Maybe one day we’ll see cheerleaders flipping and flying their way to Olympic gold! Until then, let’s celebrate the hard work and dedication of cheerathletes everywhere and continue to push for the recognition they deserve.