Highlights
• Squash will make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
• Padel now has more than 35 million active players worldwide.
• Tennis and pickleball participation continue to reach new highs.
Squash is preparing for the biggest visibility moment in its history.
At the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the sport will appear on the Olympic programme for the first time, with separate men’s and women’s singles competitions. Matches will be played as the best of five games, with each game played to 11 points.¹
The debut arrives as interest in racket sports is expanding well beyond traditional tennis. Padel has spread across five continents, pickleball is moving beyond its North American origins and tennis participation continues to reach new highs.
Together, these sports reflect a wider change in how people want to stay active. Exercise is becoming more social, competitive and experience-led, with players increasingly choosing activities that combine fitness with regular interaction.
A Long-Awaited Olympic Arrival
Squash has been played internationally for decades and already appears at several major multi-sport competitions. However, previous efforts to secure a place at the Olympic Games were unsuccessful.
That will change in 2028 after the International Olympic Committee approved squash as one of five additional sports for the Los Angeles Games. The decision gives the sport access to a global Olympic audience and creates a new goal for professional players who previously had no opportunity to compete for an Olympic medal.²
The build-up is already influencing how the sport is positioning itself.
In May 2026, England Squash introduced a new strategy focused on making squash more visible, relevant and accessible. The organisation identified LA28 as an opportunity to reach new audiences, increase participation and create clearer routes into the sport for young people, women and girls.³
The challenge is not simply to attract viewers during the Games. Squash must convert Olympic attention into people booking courts, joining clubs and continuing to play after the event has ended.
Racket Sports Are Reaching New Audiences
Squash’s Olympic debut comes during a wider period of momentum for racket and paddle sports.
Tennis participation in the United States reached a record 27.3 million players in 2025, an increase of 1.6 million from the previous year. Participation has grown by 54% since 2019, adding almost 10 million players over six consecutive years. More than 4.9 million people tried tennis for the first time during 2025.⁴
The continued popularity of Wimbledon and other major tournaments gives tennis a level of visibility that newer racket sports are still working to establish. However, tennis is no longer the only court-based sport attracting widespread interest.
Padel has become one of the fastest-spreading sports internationally. The International Padel Federation reported that the number of active players had surpassed 35 million by the end of 2025. The number of padel clubs increased by 16.1% during the year, while the number of courts rose by 15.2%.⁵
More than 77,000 padel courts are now spread across 150 countries and 20 dependent territories. Padel is usually played as doubles on an enclosed court, with walls forming part of the game. Its social format and relatively compact playing area have helped it move quickly into new markets.⁵
Pickleball Continues to Spread
Pickleball has followed a similar path, developing from a recreational American activity into an increasingly international sport.
An estimated 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025, compared with approximately 4.2 million in 2020. That represents a more than fivefold increase in five years.⁶
Its smaller court, lightweight paddle and perforated plastic ball can make the game less physically intimidating for beginners than some traditional racket sports. It can also be played in singles or doubles, allowing sessions to be adapted to different ages and abilities.
The sport is also moving beyond the United States. The Global Pickleball Federation reported that its network reached 76 member countries during 2025, while an international competition held that year attracted participants from more than 60 countries.⁷
This global spread suggests that pickleball is beginning to develop the national structures, competitions and communities required to establish itself as more than a temporary leisure trend.
Why Social Fitness Is Growing
The popularity of racket sports is part of a broader movement towards forms of exercise that also offer social connection.
Traditional gym memberships can depend heavily on individual motivation. Racket sports give participants an arranged opponent, a partner or a group of players expecting them to attend. The activity becomes both exercise and a social commitment.
Different sports also provide different entry points. Tennis benefits from global recognition and widespread facilities. Padel focuses heavily on doubles and group participation. Pickleball offers a slower and more accessible format, while squash provides a fast and intense indoor game that can be played throughout the year.
The growth of several formats at the same time suggests that consumers are not moving from one racket sport to another. Instead, the overall audience for social court-based exercise appears to be expanding.
An Opportunity to Reintroduce Squash
Olympic inclusion will not automatically reverse every challenge facing squash.
The sport still needs accessible courts, beginner-friendly sessions and welcoming club environments. It must also compete for attention with newer sports that have built their identity around casual, social participation.
However, LA28 gives squash something it has never previously had: a place on the world’s largest multi-sport stage.
The Games will introduce the speed, fitness and strategy of squash to viewers who may never have watched a professional match. More importantly, it could encourage leisure centres, schools and local clubs to present the sport differently to beginners.
Tennis, padel and pickleball have shown that racket sports can grow when they combine competition with accessibility and community. Squash now has the opportunity to use its Olympic debut to do the same.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.
Sources
- LA28: Squash
- International Olympic Committee: Five additional sports approved for LA28
- England Squash: New strategy for 2026 to 2029
- USTA: Tennis participation reaches 27.3 million players
- International Padel Federation: World Padel Report 2025
- Sports & Fitness Industry Association: 2026 Pickleball Report
- Global Pickleball Federation: 2025 milestones
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