Pole dancing push gathers pace
Pole dancing could be on its way to becoming an Olympic sport within the next decade, the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) confirmed yesterday.
They have given observer status to the International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF), meaning it now provisionally recognised as a sport.
The move sets out a ‘‘clear pathway’’ for pole sports to work towards full Olympic recognition. GAISF president Patrick Baumann told The Times it was an exciting time for pole sports and added: ‘‘we will do every- thing within our remit to help them realise their full potential and . . . one day, maybe become part of the Olympic programme.’’
IPSF president Katie Coates was optimistic that pole sports could make the grade by 2024, describing her first meeting with the International Olympic Committee as encouraging.
‘‘I’m not saying yes we will be there, but I’m not saying no either - there is a good opportunity for us and the sporting bodies are interested in young, trendy sports being recognised because they get people involved,’’ she said.
‘‘We’re proving everybody wrong. I’ve been told again and again by the traditional sports that it will be very difficult for us to be recognised as a sport, but that just spurs me on to achieve what they all say is impossible.’’
While many may connect pole dancing to the performances inside the walls of strip clubs, Coates said pole sports were no long the same as pole dancing.
‘‘Obviously, pole sports have their origins in pole dancing, but it then became a fitness activity and has developed into a competitive sport with rules and international competitions.
‘‘The sport is nothing like how people might remember pole dancing. People don’t wear high heels or wiggle their hips against the pole.
‘‘It has developed hugely and taken influences from Chinese pole, from circus, from gymnastics,’’ she said.
Coates, who has been battling to gain the sport recognition since the mid-2000s and helped to establish the international federation in 2009, claimed five million people worldwide competed in pole sports.