Pole Sport Grabs for the Olympic Rings

(ATR) Pole dancing may have the reputation as nightclub entertainment, but female and male competitors around the world are hoping it becomes better known as an Olympic sport.

The U.K.-based International Pole Sport Federation is moving ahead with plans to win Olympic status. The federation says it lodged an application with the IOC this month for recognition, parallel with its application to join SportAccord, the world union of sports federations.

"This is the beginning of a long process we are proud to be ready for. It may take a number of years but along with our SportAccord application we are taking on the challenge and evolving rapidly to meet their criteria," says the federation on its website, www.polesports.org.

Earlier this year the IPSF attended a workshop organized by SportAccord to help sports federations learn what’s needed for membership in the body, which includes more than 100 federations, Olympic and non-Olympic. Regardless of its just-submitted application to the IOC, the pole sport federation must secure membership in SportAccord as one of the steps needed ahead of Olympic recognition.

A key SportAccord requirement is 40 national federations under the IPSF umbrella. With 21 federations on the current roster, the IPSF needs to enlist 19 other countries to enter the next stage of consideration for SportAccord. Once that hurdle is cleared, pole sport would then need to seek membership in ARISF, the Association of International Recognized Sport Federations, with more extensive qualifications. The three dozen federations in ARISF form the pool of candidates the IOC considers for new Olympic sports.

Adhering to anti-doping rules and regulations is another necessity for any sport seeking recognized status. The IPSF says it complies with the WADA code.

With more than one federation claiming international status for pole sport, settling into a single governing body will probably be a must before IOC recognition. The U.S. Pole Sports Federation is not a member of the ISPF but the rival International Pole Sports & Art Federation, based in Switzerland, which is also pursuing Olympic recognition.

While women are a big part of the competition in pole sport, men are also competing, as well as mixed-gender athletes.

In the male dominated world of international federation leadership, pole sport breaks that glass ceiling. The two big federations, the IDSF and the IPSAF are led by women.

The federations set no timetable for their Olympic goal. But given the experience of other wannabes for the Olympic program, pole sport still has a few years to go before a debut at the Games.

Written by Ed Hula.

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