Should darts finally make its Olympic debut? One Dutch lawmaker certainly thinks so. Jimme Nordkamp, a member of the Netherlands’ Labour–Green alliance, is calling on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to grant darts the global recognition he believes it has long deserved.
In an interview with De Telegraaf, Nordkamp argued that darts has outgrown its reputation as a casual pub game and evolved into a serious international sport.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s time for the next step: darts should become an Olympic sport. It’s top-level competition now,” he said.
Nordkamp represents Losser in the Dutch Parliament and speaks not just as a politician, but as a player. A lifelong fan and active competitor, he says the growth of the sport — in professionalism, viewership, and global presence — can no longer be ignored. “Darts has become a proper international sport, with millions watching around the world. We can’t keep pretending it’s not.”
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Support from Within the Sport
Nordkamp’s push echoes a long-standing sentiment within the darts community. Dutch legend Michael van Gerwen, one of the sport’s biggest stars, has previously expressed support for Olympic inclusion.
Asked about the possibility ahead of the 2024 Polish Darts Masters, Van Gerwen said: “I think it can happen. There are sports already in the Olympics that are less professional and not as global as ours. But it’s not up to me — it’s down to the Olympic Committee, Matchroom Sport, and the PDC.”
What’s Holding Darts Back?
Despite growing popularity, darts still faces key hurdles before it can join the Olympic program.
The biggest issue is governance. The IOC requires a sport to be overseen by a single, internationally recognised governing body. In darts, this is currently lacking. The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) dominates the professional game, but there’s no unified global structure — especially following the collapse of the British Darts Organisation (BDO).
Another challenge is global reach. For Olympic eligibility, a men’s sport must be widely played in at least 75 countries, and a women’s sport in 40 countries, across at least three continents. While darts likely meets the threshold on the men’s side, some participating regions aren’t officially recognised IOC member nations. The women’s game, meanwhile, is still catching up in terms of international participation.
A Growing Case for Olympic Darts
Still, the sport is expanding fast. Darts has broken out of its traditional bases in the UK and the Netherlands, gaining ground in Asia, North America, and Australia. The women’s circuit, led by talents like Beau Greaves and Fallon Sherrock, is building momentum and visibility.
With continued professional development and global cooperation, the idea of Olympic darts is gaining credibility. It may not be a question of if, but when.
As Nordkamp puts it: “Darts deserves its place on the biggest sporting stage in the world. And I’m going to do everything I can to make that happen.”
