Dutch politician Jimme Nordkamp has urged the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to introduce darts as a sport with two players very keen.
Darts has never been played at the Olympic Games – but Nordkamp argues it has become an ‘international sport’ which is being watched by ‘millions’.
A total of 4.8 million people watched the PDC World Championship final last year as Luke Humphries defeated Luke Littler at at Alexandra Palace.
The game of darts was popularised in English pubs in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and Nordkamp now says it’s time for the ‘next step’.
‘As far as I’m concerned, it’s time for the next step,’ the Dutch MP told De Telegraaf.
‘It’s top-level competition now. Darts has become a proper international sport, with millions watching around the world. We can’t keep pretending it’s not.’
Humphries: I’d love to see darts at the Olympics
British star Humphries, currently ranked world No.1 by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), backed the move earlier this year.
‘I would love to see it in the Olympics – I don’t care if I’m not a part of it, I would just love to see it,’ Humphries said.
‘But do I think it will happen? Probably not in the next five to 10 years. I don’t think there’s enough traction around it, I’m not sure if it’s being pushed.’
Van Gerwen: I think it can happen
Michael van Gerwen, a three-time darts world champion, was receptive to the idea of having the sport in the Olympics when asked about it last year.
‘I think it can happen, there are sports already in the Olympics that are less professional and not as global as ours,’ the Dutchman opined.
‘But it’s not up to me – it’s down to the Olympic Committee, Matchroom Sport, and the PDC. I don’t get a say, even though I’d love to.’
Why darts faces hurdle for Olympic introduction
The IOC requires that sports in the Games are overseen by a single global governing body.
The PDC is the biggest and most recognised governing body of the professional game – but it is not considered to meet those requirements.
Therefore, there is a potential hurdle for getting darts into the Olympics at this moment in time.
