Poker is close to becoming a member of the SportAccord, an umbrella organisation for Olympic and non-Olympic games, according to an online magazine.
Poker at the Olympics?
I know what you’re thinking.
I put the wrong mushrooms in my tea.
But the dream – and someone is dreaming – could become a reality thanks to the International Federation of Poker (IFP).
According to Insidethegames.biz scribe Duncan Mackay, the IFP look like they are going to be successful in their bid to join The SportAccord, the umbrella organisation for Olympic and non-Olympic sports, after a recommendation by the ruling Council.
Poker won’t be the only new kids on the block if they are accepted by The SportAccord General Assembly in Lausanne on April 22. The World Armwrestling Federation (WAF) and the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) are also expected to be formally accepted as members according to the source.
Ten other governing bodies were not so lucky. The sport of Parkour has seen applications refused from three governing bodies; the South Korean based International eSports Federation has also been snubbed, as well as the International Pole Sports Federation (I know, I am also crying into my green tea).
An invitation to join the 90+ federations that belong to the SportAccord is seen as a vital step towards acceptance into the Olympic games. That’s not to say that every sport does get to the Olympics. The World Darts Federation (WDF) is part of the SportAccord but in a January interview with the Express, Chairman of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), Barry Hearn, said darts had zero chance of becoming an Olympic sport.
“I can’t see the IOC ever joining forces with a crowd of people having a great night and a few beers. It just doesn’t seem to fit with what they want,” Said Hearn at the time.
Will poker ever become an Olympic sport?
Like Hearn on darts, I don’t think it has a cat in hells chance.
I don’t even believe that they will be welcomed into the bosom of the SportAccord. To become a member an organisation must pass as an official sport. The SportAccord has created a five-pronged definition of what sport is, and there is one slight problem.
- The sport should not rely on any element of “luck” specifically integrated into the sport.
Oh well, back to that mushroom tea.
