Why Isn’t There Olympic Skydiving?

Skydiving, especially competitively, is an extreme sport that demands exceptional skill, discipline, precision, and bravery – like many other sports. With its unique blend of adrenaline, athleticism, and strategic maneuvering, Olympic skydiving would undoubtedly captivate audiences worldwide. So, why isn’t there Olympic skydiving yet, and what value and excitement could it bring to the world’s most prestigious sporting event?

Is Skydiving An Olympic Sport?

Currently, skydiving is not an Olympic sport. While it has a significant, international following and established competitions, it has not yet been included in the Games. The process for a sport to gain Olympic status is complex and involves meeting several stringent criteria set by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). These include: 

• Global participation
• Clear set of rules
• Strong governing body
• Demonstrated ability to captivate audiences

Although skydiving checks these boxes, it has not yet been officially recognized by the IOC. The push for its inclusion, however, continues to grow as the sport continues to increase in popularity and recognition worldwide.

It’s worth noting, though, that Canopy Piloting was seen at the World Games 2022 Birmingham, which was established by the International World Games Association, an organization recognized and supported by the International Olympic Committee!

Why Isn’t There Olympic Skydiving?

We’re not sure exactly why skydiving isn’t an olympic sport yet. Some believe it’s because it requires the burning of fossil fuels, some think it’s because it’s difficult to see the action as a spectator on the ground, or it could be because it’s a highly misunderstood sport. Whatever the reason, you’re darn tootin’ that our community is fighting tooth and nail to get in there!

That goes for indoor skydiving as well! There is actually a committee out there that advocates for the sport to be in the Olympics, and we fully support them. 

The road to Olympic inclusion has often involved lobbying from international federations and showcasing the sport at multi-sport events like the World Games. Skydiving – specifically Canopy Piloting – remains a strong contender for future consideration.

Who Skydived Into The Olympics?

While skydiving is not currently an Olympic sport, it made a show-stopping appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games Closing Ceremony as the one-and-only Tom Cruise delivered the Olympic flag from Paris all the way to Los Angeles in preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics! The famous actor – known for his impressive stunts – is seen skydiving down to the iconic Hollywood sign in L.A., covering the “Os” in classic Olympic-colored fabric, and passing on the flag to an Olympic cyclist. 

Skydiving was also seen at the 2012 London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in a hilarious depiction of Queen Elizabeth II skydiving out of a helicopter alongside famous actor, Daniel Craig, who plays the iconic James Bond. No, Her Majesty did not actually do any parachuting, the jump was performed by two stuntmen – Mark Sutton as James Bond and Gary Connery as the Queen.

Does this mean skydiving could be potentially considered for the Olympics in the future? Maybe, maybe not, but we absolutely think it should be!

Are There Competitions in Skydiving?

Yes, there are tons of competitions in skydiving! Competition is one of three mission-specific focus areas of the United States Parachute Association (USPA). The Skydiver’s Competition Manual (SCM) details how competitions are conducted, how judges are rated, how records are set, and how teams are selected. Definitely a strong governing body!

Every year, the USPA conducts the National Parachuting and Skydiving Championships that showcase the sport’s competitive disciplines: 

• Accuracy Landing
• Canopy Formation
• Canopy Piloting
• Canopy Piloting – Freestyle
• Formation Skydiving
• Artistic Events
• Speed Skydiving
• Wingsuit Flying

The top podium finishers at the Nationals go on to represent the USA at international parachuting and skydiving competitions. The USPA also annually hosts the National Collegiate Skydiving Championships for the collegiate skydiving community.

The USPA is a member of the International Skydiving Commission (ISC), the parachuting division of the World Air Sport Federation (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, i.e. FAI). The FAI organizes world championships and international competitions that attract top-tier athletes from all over the planet. 

Skydive Paraclete XP has hosted many skydiving competitions, including several USPA Skydiving Nationals competitions, and assisted in hosting the 2024 FAI World Championships in beautiful Beaufort, NC.

As is clear, the competitive infrastructure for skydiving is very much already in place – our sport is prime for Olympic consideration!

Other Reasons Skydiving Should Be in The Olympics

Global Participation & Appeal

Olympic sports should have an established international presence. Check! Skydiving has a thriving global community with participants from every continent. From the United States and France to Spain and Dubai, there are robust skydiving organizations that actively compete and collaborate in international events.

Spectator-Friendly Thrills

Keeping viewers engaged is a major consideration with adding new sports to the Olympic repertoire. Canopy Piloting in particular is a visually-appealing skydiving discipline that involves high-speed action and impressive maneuvers that can be seen from the ground. The sights of athletes zipping through courses at fast speeds and executing pinpoint landings – accompanied by their dramatic, signature whooshing sound as they approach the ground – creates an exhilarating atmosphere all ages can appreciate and enjoy.

Innovation in Sports

The inclusion of new and dynamic sports reflects the Olympic committee’s commitment to embracing innovation. As the Games evolve, they continually incorporate activities that test human limits in different ways. Skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing were only added to the Olympic roster in 2020, and all have been announced as permanent fixtures as of the 2028 Games. Adding Olympic skydiving would underscore this commitment and appeal to the spirit of modern athleticism – potentially making it the most cutting-edge sport in the Olympics!

Safety & Skill Development

Despite the consistently-impressive safety statistics seen across the sport, safety concerns may be one of the factors keeping skydiving out of the Olympics. However, incorporating skydiving into the Olympic Games would promote even higher industry standards across the sport as a whole. The attention and prestige associated with the Olympics could drive further improvements in safety, technology, and training.

Youth Engagement

One of the Olympic’s primary goals is to inspire younger generations to engage with the Games and maintain their relevance. With its adrenaline-pumping nature and use of cutting-edge technology and growth, skydiving resonates with younger audiences who seek extreme and visually-striking sports.

The potential for Olympic skydiving is promising! The combination of athleticism, international involvement, and visual appeal of our sport absolutely embodies what the Olympics stand for:  the pursuit of excellence and the celebration of human achievement. While the path to inclusion may be challenging, we will not give up hope that skydiving will one day be deemed worthy of the grandest stage in sports.

If you’re as passionate as we are about seeing skydiving take its rightful place in the Olympic spotlight, join the movement! Support the sport, share the vision, and spread the word. Let’s show the world why skydiving deserves to soar to new heights in the global arena. Get inspired by booking a skydive with Skydive Paraclete and telling all your friends about it! Blue skies.