A member of the Dutch Parliament has voiced support for adding darts to the Olympic Games, backed by prominent figures in the sport. Jimme Nordkamp, a 29-year-old Labour Party MP from Losser, Eastern Netherlands, who is an avid player, believes that darts deserves recognition on the global stage. Nordkamp highlighted the growing popularity of darts, especially following the emergence of Luke Littler, stating that it is now a top-level international sport with a significant following worldwide.
In an interview with De Telegraaf, Nordkamp expressed his belief that darts should be included in the Olympics, emphasizing its status as a competitive sport with a massive global audience. Three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen, also from the Netherlands, expressed openness to the idea, acknowledging that darts could fit in the Olympic program given its professional nature and global appeal.
Luke Humphries, ranked second in the world, echoed support for darts in the Olympics, expressing his enthusiasm for the sport’s potential inclusion. Despite his optimism, Humphries noted that significant efforts would be required to push for darts’ Olympic debut in the next decade due to perceived lack of momentum.
The potential for Great Britain to excel in darts at the Olympics was highlighted, with Littler and Humphries being dominant forces in major events. However, a key obstacle to darts’ Olympic inclusion is the sport’s fragmented organizational structure, as the International Olympic Committee requires a single global governing body to oversee Olympic sports, a criteria not currently met by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).
The Olympic Games have shown openness to incorporating new sports, with recent additions like golf and Rugby 7s. The upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Games will introduce American Flag Football and Squash as new sports, expanding the diversity of the Olympic program.