Angling to star in the Olympics?
CIPS application to recognise our sport in the Games boosts hopes of Team GB inclusion.
Angling has taken a step closer to being part of the Olympic Games – with the submission of an official application to be a part of the world’s biggest sporting spectacle.
Numerous high-profile stars from within the sport have campaigned for years to see one of the world’s biggest participant sports included in the global event, and following this latest development the dream could finally become a reality.
Bosses from international match angling’s governing body CIPS have put together a huge dossier in a bid to convince the Olympic Committee that fishing should officially be recognised as a sport.
If the move is given the green light, it could then be considered for inclusion in future Olympics.
TV personality and former Olympic athlete Dean Macey believes angling would be a worthy inclusion. He said: “Millions of people across the world go fishing, so why shouldn’t it form part of the biggest sporting event on the planet?
“It would be a huge boost for angling, and for those that compete it would be the pinnacle of their career. Forget Fish O’Mania and the World Championships, the Olympics has over a billion people tuning in. It would dwarf any other angling tournament.”
Given the nation’s huge array of talent, the chances of achieving success would be high and Dean added: “No matter what form the competition took, we would be in the medals. Be it feeder fishing, floatfishing or accuracy casting, Team GB would have the best in the world in their ranks.”
Current England international Des Shipp, who has won countless tournaments in an illustrious career, says that taking part in the Olympics would top the lot.
He said: “It would be an honour to get selected if it ever came about, and I can’t even begin to imagine how amazing it would feel to win a gold medal.
“More and more sports are being included in the Olympics and angling deserves a chance to showcase itself on the giant stage.”
Former England boss and CIPS official Dick Clegg believes that a successful bid could have numerous benefits, and he told Angling Times: “It would be great to think that angling could one day be part of the Olympic Gamesin some format, whether that is accuracy or distance casting or something else.
“In the short term, being recognised as a sport by the Olympic Committee could lead to more funding for our national teams, which would play a huge part in maintaining our current high levels of success.”