A Dutch MP wants to see darts bought into the Olympics, which has seen a number of new sports in recent games, with some of the biggest names keen to get involved
A Dutch MP has come out in support of making darts the newest addition to the Olympic Games with some of the biggest names in the sport expressing their enthusiasm.
Jimme Nordkamp, 29, is a Member of Parliament for the municipality of Losser in Eastern Netherlands.The Dutch Labour Party member admits he is a keen player and now has championed the sport’s inclusion in one of the biggest global sporting events in the world.
He suggested that darts, which has enjoyed a huge surge in popularity over recent years following Luke Littler’s emergence, has been overlooked and not taken seriously enough and now is the time for it to get some recognition.
Nordkamp told De Telegraaf: “As far as I’m concerned, it’s time for the next step – darts should become an Olympic sport. 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.”
Three-time World Champion and fellow Dutchman Michael van Gerwen was receptive to the idea of having darts in the Olympics when asked about it in 2024.
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He said: “I think it can happen, there are sports already in the Olympics that are less professional and not as global as ours. 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.”
World No 2 Luke Humphries also backed the move and earlier this year as he said: “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. 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.”
If it were bought into the games it would place Great Britain among the favourites to land a gold medal. Littler and Humphries have dominated some of the sport’s biggest events.
One potential hurdle for getting darts into the Olympics is its organisational structure. The International Olympic Committee requires that sports in the games are overseen by a single global governing body. Though the PDC is the biggest and most recognised governing body of the professional game, it does not considered to meet that criteria.
The Olympics has been receptive to new sports coming in over recent years. Golf is a recent addition, which has seen Justin Rose claim an Olympic medal. Rugby 7s has also been introduced, allowing some of the sport’s biggest names to get involved. The upcoming 2028 games in Los Angeles will include two new sports in American Flag Football and Squash.