With the 2024 Olympic Games taking place currently in Paris, the absence of the sport of darts has been a big talking point in many circles. Joining the debate, Ex-pro turned pundit and commentator
Paul Nicholson put forward the case for darts' Olympic inclusion.
"Darts wouldn’t obviously be considered an ‘athletic’ event but it certainly ticks the box of being a ‘target’ sport such as archery and shooting – and their inclusion in the games is never questioned. Not everything has to be a test of speed and physical endurance," writes 'the Asset' in his column for
Sporting Life. "Also, it’s unique to the other target sports in the sense that there is no equipment used to project the object being ‘fired’. In archery and shooting you’ve got the bow and the gun, whereas in darts its just the human hand. So, from this perspective you can argue that darts is actually a purer form of target shooting than those already in the games."
Speaking recently to TalkSport, PDC president
Barry Hearn cast doubt on the idea however. ''The Olympics in its purest form is a wonderful occasion but that has all changed. All the things wrong about sport, you have to give them huge financial incentive to sacrifice their lives for our entertainment. The image of the Olympics like the medal and ceremony keep it alive. Have you ever tried to eat a medal? These guys need cash and the Olympic movement hates that for sure," Hearn explained.
Nevertheless, Nicholson insists the appetite is there for Olympic darts, as most importantly, is the global competition. "The sport has become far more globalised in recent times than many years ago when it would be mainly considered a ‘British sport’," he explains. "Just look at the World Cup of Darts – there are 40 nations in that now and they can all pretty much hold their own against anyone, especially in pairs and other team formats. In the Olympics, the net could be cast even wider to more South American and Asian countries as well as Oceanic islands."
"The sport is growing in popularity with the younger generation, as we’ve seen with the likes of Luke Littler’s age group, and it doesn’t start with pub culture anymore," Nicholson continues. "Due to the ticketing structure of the Olympics, the crowd atmosphere would obviously end up having a completely different atmosphere to anything you’d see at Ally Pally or on Premier League darts, so organisers wouldn’t have to be worried about that!"
A big talking point in regards to Olympic darts however, is whether or not PDC professionals would compete, or the amateur players would instead take their place. "If it was down to me, I’d want to make the Olympics for either the under 23s age group so it focuses on the future of the sport, or just the amateur game rather than those in the PDC ranks," Nicholson argues. "It would be a bit like boxing where amateurs are battling out for Olympic glory and then decide whether to turn professional."
"There’s another key reason for darts adopting this approach if it’s ever to be considered for Olympic inclusion – and that’s because the PDC probably wouldn’t be interested in pushing darts into the Games. They are a professional promotional company and this wouldn’t be in their remit. They have enough on their plate and I just don’t think they’re interested," analyses the expert. "If this is ever to be done, you’d think it would have to be down to the WDF who are the world governing body of darts and organise non-PDC tournaments."
Ultimately though, despite many seemingly calling for darts' inclusion, Nicholson is doubtful it will happen. "I am very sceptical. And that’s because of its image," he concludes. "Darts is still regarded by the greater public as a pub sport and its link with alcohol and cigarettes from decades gone by. Now if darts was hypothetically to be given a chance in the Olympics, the reputation would change immeasurably. Maybe this is the kind of move that needs to be made for this sport to get the kind of recognition it deserves. I’m from a generation of players where darts was never even talked about as a potential Olympic sport. Growing up the only motivation and dream was to become a world champion or a major winner. That’s the pinnacle of the sport and nobody in darts ever dreams about being an Olympic champion!... For now, it’s just a pipedream."
