Ultimate Frisbee could be played at future Olympic Games after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized ‘flying disc sports’ on Sunday.
The World Flying Disc Federation, Frisbee’s international governing body, was granted “full recognition” by the IOC during a meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday. The nearly 30-year-old organization oversees sports such as Ultimate Frisbee (also known as Ultimate), Disc Golf and Freestyle, which all use Frisbees. The sport’s International Federation has 65 member associations across 62 countries. and said it was “extremely honored and humbled” to be given full recognition in a statement released Sunday.
The IOC tweeted its congratulations to the World Flying Disc Federation on Sunday.
Congratulations to the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF), which was granted full IOC recognition at the #128IOCSession today!
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) August 2, 2015
But recognition of a sport does not automatically guarantee it will be played at the Olympics. Frisbee joins a list of 33 other sports, including American football, polo and chess, which are recognized by the IOC but aren’t part of the Olympic sports program and have been vying for inclusion in the games for years. The WFDF was given provisional recognition in 2013 and since then has “successfully implemented most of the recommendations made by the IOC” for the sport’s best practices including Continental Associations on every continent, developing the sport in Africa and increasing the number of associations recognized by the National Olympic Committees.
“[The IOC’s] decision will give a further boost to our efforts to increasing the presence of Flying Disc sports in all countries and on all continents,” the group said in a statement.
There is no indication of when the sport will become part of the Olympic Games. It could be “years away” amid competition from other sports trying to be part of the games, Reuters reports.
Among supporters of the IOC’s decision was Ultimate player Brodie Smith, who asked his 92,000 followers to retweet if they think the sport should be in the Olympics.
RT if Ultimate Frisbee should be in the Olympics! pic.twitter.com/h3LLzoVeFE
— Brodie Smith (@Brodiesmith21) August 2, 2015
A big step for Ultimate Frisbee. Hope to be watching them in the Olympics sometime soon! #UltimateFrisbee
— Sean Foreman (@kidquizine) August 3, 2015
Flying disc sports were recognized by the IOC for the sport’s rapid growth, “tremendous youth appeal, a strong grounding in Olympic ideals, gender equality and good governance,” according to the organization.
Source: RawStory
