Why Was Polo Removed From the Olympics?

By Jayson Panganiban July 25, 2024 07:59

Photo by Freezingrain / Getty Images

In 1900, polo, also known as "Sport of Kings," was first played in Olympic competitions. In the early Olympic programs, it was one of several equestrian events, and for many years, it was included to represent high society sports in Europe.

Polo remained an Olympic sport through the next few decades, experiencing significant breaks between appearances at each Games: 1904 St. Louis Games, then a four-year hiatus to return in London for the first of three times, followed by Antwerp (1920) & Berlin (1936), after which it was never brought back into competition due to public protests against Hitler's host nation and expulsion from that summer Olympics. The series saw teams from Argentina, Austria, Britain, and France in the early 1960s, while entrants also appeared for India during these two rounds.

Reasons for Polo's Removal

Although it was a significant early sport, polo as an Olympic event only appeared in five editions of the Games. The sport was removed from the official Olympic program after 1936 and never returned as a medal event.

This decision was based on several factors:

Lack of Global Participation

The main reason for removing polo is insufficient worldwide representation. The sport gained favor in some parts of the world, such as Europe and South America, but it remained a minority interest in relatively few countries and social classes.

Cost Damages and Logistics issues

Hosting polo events at the Olympics also meant a lot of hassle and great expense. It's a sport that needs its specialized equipment, facilities, and copious amounts of horses—all at significant cost to host cities. It is a less appealing alternative to other sports that could get into the Olympic program more readily and inexpensively.

The Changing Needs and Wants

During the early to mid-20th century, this change occurred in a gradual crossover to emphasize the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) preferred culture signifying sports. The sense that the Games were growing and being watched by millions worldwide led to a push for sports with global reach able to sell tickets in bulk. Polo, as a sport that catered to an elite noble class, might have felt less suited to this changing image of the Olympics.

Reactions and Aftermath

It had many fans who criticized the removal of their sport from the Olympic program. The move provoked an outcry among many in the polo world. They said it disregarded a sport with thousands of years of history and had traditional strongholds elsewhere, including Argentina and India.

Could Polo be Coming Back?

While the IOC did take one step towards returning polo to the ranks of Olympic contenders in 1996 by declaring it a "recognized sport" for future support possibilities, this is not quite enough. Some saw this move as a ray of hope for the return of polo in the Olympics.

Regardless of this acknowledgment, polo has yet to return to being an official Olympic sport. The factors that caused its elimination, such as lack of global adoption, high costs, and safety issues, still impede a possible return.

While new disciplines such as surfing, skateboarding, and breakdancing have been added to the Olympic program in recent years, polo's time on the Games stage remains uncertain until at least 2024. Nevertheless, fans of the sport hope that one day, the "Sport of Kings" might return to its rightful position on the world's biggest sports platform.