Having made its debut at the World Games this August in Chengdu, China, cheerleading as a sport is now seeking inclusion in the Olympic Games, said Jeff Webb, President of the International Cheer Union (ICU).
The ICU is attending the three-day International Federations (IFs) Forum at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, organised by SportAccord. The forum brings together the International Olympic Committee (IOC), international federations, and other partners to discuss the future of sports.
“We’ve attended the forum for 10 years. About 70 sports are represented here, including those already part of the Olympic Games. They are the crown jewels. Some are already recognised by the IOC, and others are seeking recognition. This is when all the parts come together to explore topics of common interest,” Webb said.
Founded in 2004, the ICU was recognised by the IOC as the world governing body of cheerleading in 2021. It comprises 121 national federations and represents over 10 million athletes worldwide, according to Xinhua.
A mixed Pom Doubles competition was held for the first time at the 2025 Chengdu World Games, where the United States won the gold medal.
“We were fully recognised in 2021. The World Games are now a part of our portfolio, and we’re continuing to push forward. This is a very strong story for us,” said Karl Olson, ICU Secretary General.
Webb added, “We’re participating here and trying to be a part of this movement as well. The World Games are a start, and the ultimate goal, of course, is to be included in the Olympic Games.”
For many sports fans, cheerleading is often seen as an entertaining addition to other sports events. However, modern cheerleading combines elements of gymnastics, acrobatics, and dance, and has evolved into an independent, competitive sport.
Cheerleading competitions follow strict rules and criteria, with teams judged on difficulty and execution by a panel of experts.
“We say it’s more than a sport,” Webb explained. “Its heritage comes from cheering on the sidelines and getting the crowd involved. We kept sending coaches and instructors around the world to help new teams start. Within ten years, we were big enough to form our own federation.”
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games have added baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse, and squash as new disciplines.
“We weren’t recognised by LA28 when they made their decisions, but we’re hoping for Brisbane 2032,” Webb said. “We’re working with them. They’re looking for sports that appeal to youth — ones that are entertaining, telegenic, and have great TV reach.
“We want to make sure we approach this seriously and educate people that we are athletes,” he added.
IANS