Netball Australia’s bold push for inclusion in the Brisbane Olympics includes a men’s competition in the 2032 Games program.
A Commonwealth Games sport since 1998, World Netball and Netball New Zealand have already got behind Australia’s plans for the sport to win a spot on the Brisbane schedule in 11 years time.
Netball Australia boss Kelly Ryan says they will work with the Australian Olympic Committee and also the International Olympic Committee on the framework the sport needs to embrace for inclusion.
“We think we start from a really compelling base with 20 million players across 80 countries as it is, and 1.2 million in Australia,” Ryan said on Monday.
“The AOC and IOC have a set criteria that we are yet to work through with them on what they be looking for to be in the Games.
“Those conversations start as early as today for us to understand what our commitments need to be to make sure netball is represented on the Olympic stage.
“We want our junior netballers to dream of Olympic glory … our sport deserves to be played on the biggest stage.”
While male participation in Australia is “on the rise”, Ryan said they have assumed that given the IOC’s ongoing push for gender equality in Olympic events, netball would be played by both genders.
“We would naturally assume that’s probably going to be a big part of the conversation – it’s the way the Olympics has been progressing, to get that gender equity in all sports,” Ryan said.
“They still do have sports that are more orientated to one gender versus the other at this point in but our expectation is that by the time 2032 comes around that gender equity piece will be a really strong part of the conversation.”
World Netball will lobby the IOC and expect support from other playing nations.
“All our member nations are excited at the potential of being part of the Olympic family in 2032,” World Netball president Liz Nicholl said.
“We are committed to exploring the potential with Netball Australia and ensuring that our case for inclusion adds significant value to this very special Olympic movement.”
Ryan said it would be a “lengthy process” but one they were up for.
“The early indication is that they’re still five years away from making a decision, but what they’ll see is how relentless the netball world is when we set our sights on something,” she said.
Sydney will host the sport’s most prestigious tournament – the Netball World Cup again in 2027, with 16 national teams competing.
(Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Australian netball legend Liz Ellis recently wrote of her desire to see the sport given Olympic Games status.
“The netball community is one million plus people who are engaged in netball each week in some way – as players, coaches, administrators, parents, fans – so that‘s a pretty big swath of the Australian community who have pricked up their ears and gone, hang on, this is a great opportunity,” Ellis said of the idea.
“It breaks my heart every four years when people ask me why netball isn’t in the Olympics, and I don’t have a great answer for that.
“Perhaps this is our moment. We’ve got 11 years to make this happen and you don’t make things happen by sitting back politely and waiting.
“The netball community needs to mobilise and I‘m really keen to be a part of that and to perhaps get our Diamonds playing in 2032 in Brisbane.”
Mark
Guest
It literally is a sport unknown outside of the Commonwealth. As another commenter mentioned, at the last World Cup, the only non-Commonwealth nation was Zimbabwe, and they are only not in the Commonwealth because they were expelled from it. In the history of the Netball World Cup, only 2 other non Commonwealth nations have even competed - Ireland and USA - and neither of them this century. All Olympic sports have a much wider footprint than netball.
Mark
Guest
Who's the patronising prat? Probably the one calling the NRL and AFL Sydney and Melbourne based club competitions with barely any interest in spreading interstate. You may have been asleep for the past 35 years, but the AFL has very successful, profitable and popular teams in both WA and SA, the Sydney Swans are successful and well-supported in Sydney, there are 2 teams in Qld and GWS have already made a GF. You can criticise the current NRL leadership for not wanting to expand further, but the NRL has had a very successful team in Melbourne for 20 years, a team in Canberra for almost 40 years, a team in NZ, a team in Newcastle, and 3 popular teams in Qld. Neither code has a major international presence, but please don't pretend they haven't successfully expanded in Australia outside of Melbourne and Sydney respectively.
raj
Guest
The only non Commonwealth country at the last Netball World Cup was ,er, Zimbabwe How would an Olympic netball tournament not just be a rehash of the CWG tournament ? Of the 15 most Olympic medalling countries only Britain and Australia would be pro netball Next question
PeterCtheThird
Guest
Jerry Seinfeld…now there’s an expert! Oh, and if you are a Roar Rookie, presumably you aspire to be a Roar Guru. In which case, you should be able to provide rational argument in addition to quoting the self-described star of “a show about nothing.” Go on, give it your best shot.
Winston
Guest
This is pretty funny stuff. I do wonder though which other sports we would want to put up as contenders for inclusion. Cricket obviously. Expand rugby into full squads possibly? Length of match is not an issue if they can accommodate soccer. All other Aussie sports are already in, including surfing and golf. So given the lack of contenders, I'm afraid it might actually be possible that netball gets looked at seriously. That would be outrageous.
Ad-O
Guest
That's embarrassing.
nickp
Guest
Countries have plenty of time to get their netball squads ready to compete
Maximus Insight
Guest
It's a no brainer the netball should be in the olympics particularly considering the array of sports getting a look in nowadays. The nee-jerk reactions of other commenters, dripping with cultural cringe, are as disappointing as they are predictable. It is a big reason why sports like netball and cricket have never got a look in. One of the main countries that play them is so stunted with cultural cringe there is nobody there to advocate for them. Wouldn't shock me if Netball Australia got a lukewarm response from the AOC
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
Zero chance of getting in given there are virtually no male participants. Never mind very few nations play it. But if skateboarding and breakdancing get a run, it's hard to say no.....
PeterCtheThird
Guest
“Real” nations? Patronising prat. Apart from which, the article makes it very clear that they recognise the issues and intend to work with the AOC and IOC to address these. It would be really stupid to suggest rugby league or Australian Rules for inclusion. They are Sydney and Melbourne based club competitions with barely any interest in spreading interstate let alone internationally.
matth
Roar Guru
England are quite strong, South Africa, Jamaica.
surfside66
Roar Rookie
Jerry Seinfeld once described netball as basketball with all the fun bits taken out. No brilliant dribbling, no outrageous slam dunks, no great three point shots at the buzzer and no lightning swift defensive blocks. As for something called Men's Netball - NEVER do I want to my tax dollars funding such an imbecilic monstrosity.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Netball can be played in a week. There are 16 nations in the previous and upcoming world cups. Cricket is dependent on weather, and future hosts won't have the facilities to host and games
Marcel
Guest
"tell her she's dreamin!" More chance of Tug of War making a return to the games.
TRhing-me
Roar Rookie
Nearly half the world's population play cricket. Does that mean it should be included in the Olympics as well? It's about as level-headed as saying League or VFl should be included. There are only two real nations who can afford the courts and uniforms for netball and that is NZ and Australia. The rest come after the length of the strait.