The table soccer at the Olympic Games ?

At each Olympic Games, a new event is introduced by the host country. What if, for the next edition, table soccer became one of the candidates to be one of the future events of the 2028 Olympic Games? This would be an appropriate choice, as table soccer is a very popular sport, accessible to all.

Why is table soccer a popular sport?

Table soccer has achieved worldwide popularity. Since its creation in 1921, the game has been exported all over the world. Its popularity has exploded thanks to its presence in public places such as cafés and bars. Its presence in these places of exchange and conviviality has enabled it to be exported around the world and win the hearts of everyone. What's more, the sport is based on soccer, the world's most popular sport, making it understandable to all. The most important thing about table soccer is its accessibility. Indeed, it can be found in many public places, allowing everyone to play without distinction. Table soccer is a passion that has been passed down from generation to generation, making it accessible to all, thanks to its simple rules and the emotions it transmits. It has become so popular that federations have been formed.

Table soccer's sporting qualities

Table soccer is a sport, not just a game. More precisely, it's a “table sport”. And like any sport, it has both physical and mental demands.

As far as the physical demands are concerned, these revolve around the reflexes required when playing, reflexes which are developed in particular through hand-eye coordination. This coordination is extremely important, because without it, it's hard to play effectively. Contrary to popular belief, table soccer is an endurance sport. And yes, exchanging balls on the table requires a great deal of effort.

For mental demands, table soccer is a sport of strategy and concentration. You need to know where to hit, when to hit, which player to pass to and, above all, how to manage stress. Stress management is important because in a game of table soccer, nothing can be taken for granted. Never sell the bear before you've killed it.

The most important thing about table soccer is team spirit. Sure, the game can be played alone, but its essence is a team game. Team cohesion is therefore essential for good coordination to achieve victory.

Les qualités sportives du baby-foot

Sports similar to table soccer are already in the Olympics.

If you think table soccer isn't a “traditional” sport, don't forget that others have already entered this competition. Indeed, “non-traditional” sports have quickly taken over the Olympic Games and the hearts of the public. We can see this with skateboarding, which has gone from being a street sport for youngsters to a recognized discipline at the Olympic Games. This international competition aims to be more modern by adding spectacular and popular disciplines; breaking, for example, will be one of the new disciplines at the 2024 Games. Table soccer falls into this category of popular sport, accessible to all. What's more, table sports are already part of the Olympic Games. Have you forgotten table tennis? A sport which, like table soccer, is played on a table. If these sports could be included in this international competition, why couldn't table soccer be part of the next edition?