Luigi Carraro, the president of the International Padel Federation (FIP), met with Kirsty Coventry, the incoming president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in Rome, marking a momentous occasion for the sport. The gathering emphasized the increasing impetus for padel’s global growth and Olympic inclusion goals.
One of the top events in the world padel calendar, the BNL Italy Major, was given to Coventry in a special edition by Carraro during their meeting. The gesture represented the sport’s growing popularity and its compatibility with the Olympic movement’s ideals of creativity, diversity, and internationalization.
On June 23, Olympic Day, Coventry will formally take over as IOC President, bringing with her a unique viewpoint as the organization’s first African and female leader. Her encounter with Carraro is indicative of a common goal to broaden the Olympic family to include new sports like padel, which has had a sharp increase in popularity and awareness across the globe.
The Rome match highlights FIP’s calculated attempts to establish padel as a global sport and strengthen its relationship with the Olympic community. Partnerships like this one could open the door for the sport’s future participation in multisport competitions and possibly the Olympic Games as it continues to gain popularity.