The Recognition and Vulnerability of Olympic Sports: The Case of Basque Pelota (1900–1992)

The path to Olympic recognition remains challenging for many disciplines. While some sports successfully navigate this road, traditional and regional sports face significant barriers. Basque pelota exemplifies these difficulties. Its case highlights the challenges a sport can face by seeking recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and inclusion in the Olympic programme. Despite having historical and traditional significance, particularly in countries like France, Spain, and Mexico, it only managed to appear as an official event in 1900 and as a demonstration sport in the 1924, 1968, and 1992. The historical trajectory of Basque pelota within the Olympic framework reveals how the sport was first introduced to the Olympic programme, the factors that led to its exclusion, and the continuous efforts aimed at regaining recognition and inclusion. Basque pelota’s trajectory sheds light on Olympic sport recognition and exclusion processes, underlining the need to adaptive and innovative measures to ensure the survival and sustainability of sports within the Olympic movement. The sport’s regional character and limited global reach do not align with the IOC’s increasing focus on universality, media visibility and youth appeal.