Cheerleading, Muay Thai Granted Provisional IOC Recognition

Two new sports have been granted provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC): cheerleading and Muay Thai.

The IOC voted the two sports into provisional status at the IOC board meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. The recognition means that the international federations governing the two sports can now receive funding from the IOC as well as apply for development programs. The provisional status will last for three years, and either of the sports can now be added to future Olympic Games by a vote from an IOC Session.

The federations now recognized are the ICU (the International Cheer Union) and the IFMA (International Federation of Muaythai Amateur). The New York Times reports that each will receive at least $25,000 annually from the IOC, and will also have the opportunity to apply for further grants.

In addition, the same IOC board meeting added three new sports to the 2018 Youth Olympic Games lineup. The sports are very much aimed at youth appeal, with the IOC explaining its rationale as “building youth engagement,” and saying the sports “represent a mix of emerging, universal and urban sports with a significant youth appeal.” The three sports added are “dance sport” (essentially breakdancing), karate and sport climbing (a form of rock climbing).