Why Disc Golf Should Be an Olympic Sport

The Olympic Games are the ultimate stage for athletes to test their skills. Every four years (unless there is a pandemic!) the Summer Olympics showcase the world’s finest athletes from the world over. The 2020 Games was scheduled to have 206 countries competing across 33 sports. That is a lot of athletic competition and brings me to my main question; Why no disc golf?!

Well, it turns out there is a process for a sport to gain entry into the Olympics. As tedious as it can be, all sports must jump through certain hoops to gain access. We’ll get to that in a bit. But for now let’s start with some highly subjective opinions on why disc golf should be in the Olympics.

Highly Subjective Opinions

First, disc golf already has a companion sport in the Olympics; the discus throw. The discus throw has been an Olympic sport since the inaugural games in 1896. Yes, the discus throw is highly competitive. However, disc golf throws are much more impressive as they bend around trees and rocks and over lakes and OB and nestle in a basket. If nothing else, disc golf is a much more spectacular sport and test of skill than the discus throw!

Next, Disc golf will bring the wonder of flight to the world stage. People have always marveled at objects in flight. UFO’s and planes and frisbees have brought fascination to many minds. Imagine the wonder in people’s eyes when the world sees discs flying for the first time in unimaginable ways. I remember the first time I saw JoMez coverage and it changed the way I not only viewed the sport but the way I played. I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. The wonder of flight has the power to attract viewers from the world over. Just look at what is happening with the number of viewers for our sport on YouTube at the present moment.

Third, and possibly most importantly, the world needs our sport. Our sport has at its core a selfless giving and ease of entry unparalleled by any other sport in the world. Thousands of volunteers at local clubs and courses across the globe put in countless hours free of charge. This ensures courses are maintained and tournaments are run smoothly amongst a multitude of other aspects that contribute to the camaraderie of our sport. This selflessness endears itself to the low cost of entry and welcoming attitude once folks show up at their local course. Couldn’t the world use a bit more of this at the moment?

Finally, disc golf does not have a world tour. The Olympic Games would serve as the first true platform for players from around the world to compete. Yes, the PDGA Tour in the US is the pinnacle of our sport. But how many world-class players are out there that simply cannot afford to drop everything and go on tour? This question would be answered if disc golf became an Olympic sport.

No matter how much we love disc golf we cannot just will the sport into the Olympics. There are certain criteria that must be met. Let’s take a dive into how sports gain entry into the Olympics and how disc golf may achieve and meet the criteria sooner than one may think.

The Process

The first step in the process of becoming an Olympic sport is recognition as a sport from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Check. Disc golf achieved this accreditation in May 2013. Once a sport is recognized, it then moves to the International Sports Federation (IF) status. This is where disc golf stands today.

The World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) did the heavy lifting for the flying disc community. They were in charge of presenting a resume to the IOC to achieve IF status. So what does the WFDF do?

The WFDF serves as the international governing body for the sport of flying disc, with responsibility for sanctioning world championships and other international flying disc events, establishing uniform rules, and setting standards for and recording of world records for a multitude of disc sports including Ultimate Frisbee, Beach Ultimate, Guts, Disc Golf, Freestyle and Field events. This is where disc golf comes into play as a “discipline” and not as a “sport.” This technicality could give disc golf the possibility of being played as a discipline under the umbrella of flying disc sports. Other flying disc sports could also appear in the Olympics as a discipline as well.

According to the article entitled “How Are Sports Chosen for the Olympics?” on Britannica.com:

“To become a part of the Games, the sport’s IF must apply for admittance by filing a petition establishing its criteria of eligibility to the IOC. The IOC may then admit an activity into the Olympic program in one of three different ways: as a sport; as a discipline, which is a branch of a sport; or as an event, which is a competition within a discipline…Once an IF has presented its petition, many rules and regulations control whether the sport will become part of the Olympic Games. The Olympic Charter indicates that in order to be accepted, a sport must be widely practiced by men in at least 75 countries and on four continents and by women in no fewer than 40 countries and on three continents. The sport must also increase the ‘‘value and appeal’’ of the Olympic Games and retain and reflect its modern traditions.”

With these numbers in mind let’s look at the WFDF. Today they represent 66 member associations in 62 countries and hold major World Championships across many disciplines. Our numbers are extremely close to what is required by the Olympic Charter. And as for “value and appeal,” disc golf speaks for itself. How many sports on the world stage are unplayable for masses of people due to physical limitations, cost, and time allotment? Disc golf strips away these inconveniences and opens the door to all who inquire. The world is starved for a sport that is both accessible and awe-inspiring.

You Never Know

Disc golf has taught me a valuable lesson; anything is possible. Every round I play there is a moment where I say, “I’ve never seen that before.” With the growth and passion and professionalism of our sport, we are on a trajectory to places unimaginable. Let’s keep the momentum flowing and who knows, maybe you will be the first-ever gold medalist for disc golf at a future Olympics!