In a historic first for the growing padel sport, it will be featured at this year’s European Games in Krakow, Poland. It was the sport’s biggest event to date and the first of many major international competitions. It’s also an opportunity for 128 of the best players on the European padel circuit to show off their skills on the court. The competition is divided into three groups: Men’s, Women’s and Mixed. The competition will be held for five days from June 21 to June 25, 2023.
The European Games is a major international sporting event hosted by the European Olympic Committee (EOC), the European branch of the International Olympic Committee. The decision to include padel is the first step towards being recognized as an Olympic sport in the coming years.
Padel joins the list
Padel will join the ranks of other sports including 3×3 basketball, archery, badminton, beach handball, boxing, kayaking, cycling, karate, modern pentathlon, muay thai, sport shooting, rock climbing, kickboxing and triathlon — — many of which are transitioning into established Olympic sports, 3 x 3 basketball, which recently debuted at the Tokyo Olympics.
International Cricket Federation President Luigi Carraro said of the decision: “To all who love cricket, to the cricketers and to those who have contributed to the development of our game over the years. “It’s a huge emotion for athletes. Looking at the Olympic rings and seeing the cricket bats in the background is the greatest reward for the hard work, dedication, and perseverance that have led us to the European Olympic Games.” selected by the committee.”
How to choose a pair
Each participating country will consist of four male and four female athletes, although some lower-ranked countries will only submit one pair per category. The final date for selection for the competition is June 2, but it’s safe to assume some of the world’s best duos will be in attendance. These include Spanish boy group Juan Leblanc and Ale Garland, and Spanish girl group Martita Ortega and Bea Gonzalez.
Also in attendance are home fan favorites Marcin Maszczyk and Jerzy Janowicz, pioneers of the sport in Poland. This duo is sure to draw a crowd.
Each national padel association will select the pairings to compete in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for more information on the stars of the professional padel sport who will be competing. It will be interesting to see which pairings will battle it out on the court for the sport’s biggest prize to date. It’s sure to be a fantastic game, played in the city’s main square and fully informed by a whole new generation of fans. Hope to see padel at the Olympics next stop.
