The campaign to see padel included in the Olympic Games has received a significant and high-profile boost, with a new team-based competition backed by tennis stars Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal being integrated into the sport's official international calendar.
A Historic Step for Olympic Ambitions
According to Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation (FIP), the move is a historic one for the sport's Olympic aspirations. The integration of the Hexagon World Series into the FIP's official recognition calendar brings a previously celebrity-driven format under the formal governance of the sport's global body. This step is seen as crucial in presenting a unified, professional front to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Carraro revealed that IOC members had specifically noted the Hexagon Cup format, telling him: “I saw the Hexagon Cup and I believe the inclusion of the Hexagon Cup within the ecosystem will help you achieve becoming an Olympic sport.” He emphasised the format's appeal, stating, “It's a team competition composed of both men and women. For the IOC, men and women competing together is very important... The Hexagon Cup, having a team composed of both men and women, is a demonstration of how much padel is a gender-equal sport.”
Star Power and Spectator Growth
The new circuit, backed by the sports agency 54—known for its involvement with LIV Golf—will complement the existing Premier Padel tour. While details are still being finalised, the Hexagon World Series is expected to mirror the popular Hexagon Cup, which earlier this year attracted over 30,000 live spectators and two million viewers on YouTube.
The team-based format features six squads, each with three playing pairs: top men's, women's, and next-generation players. The high-profile ownership of these teams is a key draw, with investors including Murray, Nadal, footballers Sergio Aguero and Robert Lewandowski, and actress Eva Longoria. “It's a confirmation of this sport... and of how much interest it generates,” Carraro noted, highlighting the cross-over appeal from entertainment and other sports.
Converting Players into Viewers
Padel's participation numbers are staggering, with 35 million players globally. In the UK alone, the number of courts has exploded by 1,900 per cent in six years, rising from around 50 in 2019 to roughly 1,000 today. The central challenge now is converting this massive grassroots participation into a dedicated audience for elite competition.
Gary Davidson, Group Chief Operating Officer at 54, outlined a cautious but ambitious growth plan. “We haven't put a ceiling on how big this can get,” he said, suggesting the series could eventually expand to 12-14 events with 12-16 teams. The immediate focus, however, is on building sustainable demand. Broadcast strategy is pivotal; past Hexagon Cup events have been shown on ITVX and ITV4, but Davidson sees potential in padel's digital-native audience. “If we can give them a different product to engage with, we think we could make many more people watch,” he stated.
This strategic merger of star power, formal governance, and a mixed-team format represents padel's most concerted push yet to join the Olympic programme, with the Brisbane 2032 Games a clear target for inclusion.
