Netball Australia has made clear its intention to see the sport played at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
Since 1998, netball has been played at the Commonwealth Games, and currently the game is played by over 20 million people across more than 80 countries.
Australia’s national team, the Diamonds, is currently ranked No.1 in the world and nationally netball is the biggest team sport for women and girls, played by over 1.2 million people.
Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan said netball deserved to be considered as an Olympic sport.
“In such a challenging time, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have brought so much joy to households right across Australia,” Ryan said.
“We want our junior netballers to dream of Olympic glory in the sport they love.
“We want our netball fans, who are the proudest and most passionate supporters, to cheer on their favourite athletes as they compete in the green and gold with the whole world watching on.
“Our sport deserves to be played on the biggest stage.”
The push for inclusion in the Olympics comes after Sydney won its bid to host the 2027 Netball World Cup, an international meet that will see 16 teams compete for the world championship.
Australian Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich said the potential for netball to become an Olympic sport was exciting.
“It’s all the hidden stories that come around the Olympic Games that make it so significant,” Marinkovich said on Monday.
“The strives, the struggles, and for us a sport, we’ve grown the sport and Australia has been a leader in that. Not only a leader in what we do in the domestic competition, but we have grown the sport internationally.
“To put our hand up and say our sport is at a point where it can be on the world stage in that environment is a phenomenal recognition of what so many people have done before us.”
Diamonds player Gretel Bueta said the idea was inspiring for future generations of netball players.
“It’s very, very exciting. I was doing the maths and unfortunately, I’d be too old,” she said.
“I still remember watching the 2000 Olympics, mum and dad taking us along when I was 7 and that sparked my interest in sport. It’s super exciting for 2032.”
In a statement, Netball Australia acknowledged that men’s participation in netball is increasing year-on-year, and there is a growing number of competitions being offered to men and boys.
Liz Nicholl, the World Netball President, said Australia’s push for Olympic inclusion as supported by all member nations.
“We are committed to exploring the potential with Netball Australia and ensuring that our case for inclusion adds significant value to this very special Olympic movement.”