Should snooker by an Olympic sport? Ronnie O'Sullivan and Steve Davis divided over possibility
Six time snooker world champion Steve Davis has hinted that he would support the sport becoming an Olympic event.
Snooker was played at the first Paralympic Games back in 1960 and had contested until falling off the programme in 1988 - however it has never been an Olympic event, despite strong calls from the governing body. And those were echoed by Davis on BBC punditry for a dramatic Masters final between Kyren Wilson and Shaun Murphy. Reacting to news about the BBC extending its broadcasting deal for the Triple Crown events, he said: "It's fantastic news, it shows how popular the sport has been in the UK, but I think one of the reasons is how big it gets worldwide now as well. It's incredible, who is to say that one day it doesn't make the Olympics?"
Presenter Hazel Irvine added: "There is certainly plenty of pushing for that and, indeed, for the Paralympics as well." Hopes had been high that snooker could make the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, but it missed out on a spot there - and in Paris 2024. Previously it had formed part of the Asian Games between 1998 and 2010.
Who wants snooker to be an Olympic sport?
Snooker, along with darts and chess, had hoped to earn a place at Paris 2024 - however none of the sports were successful, despite growing audiences. Jason Ferguson, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, last year told the Telegraph: "Each country in the world would be able to open an academy, to have sports funding for medal hopefuls. It would change our landscape in the UK because the funding we get for projects to develop snooker in this country is tiny compared to other sports competing in the Olympics.
“It’s constantly a battle when you see snooker clubs closing and being turned into flats. Fortunately we have stopped the rot, new ones are opening, but it’s a constant cycle. We should have a national training centre with a national academy. It is very much on our agenda and would be a game changer in my view.”
World number one Judd Trump agrees, having said he would trade a world title for Olympic gold. He said: "If I could play there once in my lifetime and get the gold medal then I certainly think it would top winning the World Championship. Snooker is a lot bigger than some of the stuff that is already in there. It certainly gets more viewing figures so I don't see why it shouldn't be in there. It has proved that it deserves to be there. It will do well, especially in Japan. You will get a lot of people watching it."
Why does Ronnie O'Sullivan not want snooker at the Olympics?
The opportunity to play in the most iconic sporting tournament on the planet doesn't appeal to everyone however, with seven time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan less than convinced that snooker should be played at the Olympics. In a 2015 BBC interview, the Rocket said: "A World Championship, UK Championship or Masters title would always come before Olympic gold. Does it mean that much to a snooker player? We all want to be world champion.
"Any athlete who goes to the Olympics - that is their goal, that is what they train for for four years. From one Olympics to the next, that is all they are thinking about. I'm not sure a snooker player would have that mindset."
What are the chances of snooker being an Olympic sport?
Snooker is said to be closing in on a Paralympic return, possibly even by the 2028 games in Los Angeles. Other reports say that aims to have snooker classified as a precision sport by the International Olympic Committee are "realistic" after the resolution of issues with other cue sports following the breakaway of the World Snooker Federation. 2032 may be the hope, but fans could have to wait for more than a decade until the 2036 games realistically.
