Is Olympics BJJ a Possibility? Maybe, but Don’t Hold Your Breath

If you haven’t heard of the Olympics, you might be living under a rock. After all, it’s only the largest sporting event in the world. Its viewership spans all five continents and averages 3.5 billion. (That’s nearly half of the world population!) With such prestige on a global scale, many sports aspire to join the Olympics, BJJ included.

The Olympics is an event of the highest prestige. Unfortunately, that means getting in on the action isn’t as simple as signing up for it. The IOC has rigid guidelines before recognizing a new sport (or rather the IFs that manage the sport). Not to mention, the IF has to petition to join the Olympics after gaining recognition. The process is so tedious that Muay Thai gained Olympic recognition TEN years after its application! And even now, its fate in the 2024 Olympics is still uncertain.

IF is shorthand for International Sports Federations. The Olympics website describes it as international non-governmental organisations recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as administering one or more sports at world level.

Regardless of the hurdles, it’s all worth it when a sport actually makes it to the roster. After all, the Olympics serve as a platform for widespread public demonstration. A surge of interest in the featured games often follows. And with it, an abundance of opportunities for the sport. 

(That includes annual stipends after their International Federations receive Olympic recognition. Also, the chance to apply for more grants as necessary, even before they actually go on the actual Games.)

Will BJJ be in the Olympics?

BJJ has a strong and steadily growing community across the globe. Whether or not it has an Olympic future has been a topic of interest for many. If you’re wondering the same, here’s our two cents on the matter:

BJJ won’t be going to the Olympics anytime soon. Sad as it may be, it is hardly eligible for application the way it is now.

But what does the future hold for the sport? Perhaps we’re wrong, and we’ll see BJJ in the Olympics sooner rather than later. But what will it take for BJJ to become an Olympic sport? This article will explore a brief history of the Olympics, why BJJ isn’t in the Olympics (yet), and why it should be.