As of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the racket sports in the Games are tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Squash is set to join the Olympic program at Los Angeles 2028, so the answer depends on which Games you mean.
This guide explains how each sport works at the Olympics, which events athletes compete in, and how the sports differ. It also clears up common mix-ups about squash, pickleball, and other racket sports that are not currently Olympic events.
what racket sports are in the olympics
Tennis, badminton, and table tennis were on the program at Paris 2024. Squash is scheduled to make its Olympic debut at Los Angeles 2028. That means there are three Olympic racket sports at the most recent completed Summer Games, with a fourth joining the next Summer Olympics.
The distinction matters because people may use “Olympic sport” to mean either a sport featured at a particular Games or a sport that has appeared in any Olympic edition. Squash will be an Olympic sport at LA28, but it was not part of Paris 2024. For a current, event-specific list, always note the year.
Here is the quick comparison:
| Sport | Olympic status | Typical Olympic events | How play differs | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennis | Olympic since 1896, with gaps in its early history | Men’s and women’s singles and doubles; mixed doubles | Players hit over a net on a court, with the ball allowed to bounce once | Long rallies, serves, and court coverage |
| Badminton | Olympic since 1992 | Men’s and women’s singles and doubles; mixed doubles | Players hit a feathered or synthetic shuttlecock over a net | Fast exchanges and sharp changes of direction |
| Table tennis | Olympic since 1988 | Men’s and women’s singles and teams; mixed doubles | Players strike a lightweight ball across a table net | Quick reactions, spin, and close-range control |
| Squash | Set to debut at LA28 | Men’s and women’s singles | Players rally against the walls of an enclosed court | Movement, stamina, and using the walls tactically |
Event programs and formats can vary by edition. The table reflects the established structure for these sports and the announced squash events for Los Angeles 2028.
How Olympic tennis works
Olympic tennis uses the familiar court game played on professional tours, but it is a separate tournament with its own qualification rules and national team entries. Athletes represent their countries rather than competing as tour representatives. The exact entry and match details can differ between Olympic editions.
At Paris 2024, tennis included five medal events: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Singles matches are one player against one player. In doubles, two-player teams share the court, while mixed doubles teams include one man and one woman.
The sport is played on a rectangular court divided by a net. Players use a strung racket to hit a felt-covered ball into the opponent’s side. A ball can bounce once before it must be returned. Players score points to win games, games to win sets, and enough sets to win a match.
What makes Olympic tennis different from a Grand Slam?
The Olympics award medals, not a Grand Slam title or tour ranking points in the same way as a major championship. Players compete under national flags, and qualification is shaped by ranking, country limits, and eligibility rules. A top-ranked player is not automatically guaranteed a place if a country has already reached its entry limit.
Olympic tennis has also changed across history. It appeared at the first modern Olympics in 1896, was dropped after 1924, returned as a demonstration sport in 1968 and 1984, and became a full medal sport again in 1988. Its court surface and event details have varied by host edition.
How Olympic badminton works
Badminton has been a full Olympic medal sport since Barcelona 1992. It is played with a racket and a shuttlecock, commonly called a shuttle. Unlike a tennis ball, the shuttle is designed to slow sharply after being hit, so players must react quickly and get into position before it drops.
At the Olympics, badminton has five events: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. The singles events feature one player on each side. Doubles teams cover a wider court and often use rapid attacking and defensive formations.
Matches are played as the best of three games. Each game is normally played to 21 points, and a side must win by two points unless the score reaches the game’s upper limit. Players can score on any rally, not only when serving. This scoring method is known as rally scoring.
Badminton asks for more than a quick swing. Players use clears to send the shuttle deep, drops to make it fall near the net, and smashes to attack. A good shot can force an opponent out of position, but a poorly chosen attack may leave the court open for a counter.
How Olympic table tennis works
Table tennis became an Olympic sport at Seoul 1988. The game is played across a table divided by a small net. Players use a compact paddle, often called a racket or bat, to send a lightweight ball onto the opponent’s half. The ball must bounce on the hitter’s side after a serve and then on the receiver’s side.
The Olympic program has five events: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s teams, women’s teams, and mixed doubles. Team matches combine individual and doubles play according to the competition format. Mixed doubles pairs one male and one female athlete.
Singles matches are generally played as the best of seven games. Each game goes to 11 points, with a two-point margin required to win. Service changes regularly, and the rules include special service requirements so opponents can see the ball as it is struck.
Spin is central to table tennis. A player can brush the ball to make it rotate, changing its bounce and flight after it crosses the net. Reading that spin matters as much as reacting quickly. A return that looks simple can sail long or fall into the net if the receiver misjudges the rotation.
Why squash joins the Olympics in 2028
Squash is an indoor racket sport played by two opponents in a walled court. Players take turns hitting a small rubber ball against the front wall. The ball can also contact the side and back walls, but it must reach the front wall above the tin, a low out-of-bounds panel, and below the boundary line.
The International Olympic Committee approved squash for the Los Angeles 2028 program. It is expected to feature men’s and women’s singles, making LA28 the sport’s first appearance as an Olympic medal event. Squash was not part of Paris 2024, even though it has a long international competition history.
Squash differs from the other Olympic racket sports because players share the same enclosed court and use the walls as part of the rally. They must judge angles, recover toward a useful central position, and avoid interfering with an opponent’s shot. Referees can decide whether a player was obstructed and whether a rally should continue or be replayed.
For fans, the main change is simple: squash expands the Olympic racket-sport list from three sports at Paris 2024 to four at Los Angeles 2028. The sport is not the same as racquetball, which is not on the LA28 Olympic program.
Which racket sports are not in the Olympics?
Many popular racket and paddle sports are not Olympic medal sports. Pickleball, padel, racquetball, and real tennis are not included in the Paris 2024 program or the announced LA28 program. Their popularity or professional competition does not by itself make them Olympic events.
Some sports have appeared in Olympic demonstrations or other forms of exhibition without becoming full medal sports. A demonstration appearance is not the same as inclusion in the official medal program. That is why a sport’s past Olympic connection does not always mean athletes can win an Olympic medal in it today.
Another source of confusion is the word “racket.” Table tennis equipment is often called a paddle or bat, while tennis, badminton, and squash use rackets. The equipment names differ, but all four sports fit the broad category of games in which players strike a ball or shuttle with a handheld implement.
How to tell whether a sport is Olympic at a specific Games
If you are checking an Olympic schedule, use the edition year rather than a general list of sports. The program changes over time, and an approved future sport may not appear in the current Games. This quick process helps avoid mixing up confirmed events with speculation.
- Start with the Games edition. For Paris 2024, the racket sports were tennis, badminton, and table tennis. For LA28, squash is scheduled to join them.
- Check whether the event awards medals. A demonstration or exhibition is not automatically an official Olympic competition.
- Confirm the event format. The sport may be included while a particular discipline, team event, or mixed event differs from another edition.
- Use the official competition schedule for exact details. Match dates, draw sizes, and qualification information are edition-specific.
A practical tip: when someone asks whether squash is an Olympic sport, answer with the year. “Yes, starting at LA28” is more accurate than an unqualified yes, because squash was not included in Paris 2024.
What the Olympic racket sports have in common
All four sports reward control, anticipation, and efficient movement, but the skills transfer only partly from one to another. Each has its own equipment, court dimensions, scoring system, and tactics. Being good with one kind of racket does not automatically prepare an athlete for another sport’s demands.
They also differ in how athletes share space. Tennis and badminton players face each other across a net. Table tennis players stand close to a small table and rely on compact strokes. Squash players move around one shared enclosed court, where positioning and safe access to the ball are part of the contest.
The pace can be misleading on television. A long tennis point may involve fewer strokes but extensive running. A short table tennis exchange can demand several rapid adjustments in a small space. Badminton’s shuttle can change direction quickly, while squash rallies often require repeated movement in tight quarters.
Quick answers about Olympic racket sports
How many racket sports are in the Olympics?
There were three at Paris 2024: tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Squash is set to bring the number to four at Los Angeles 2028.
Is pickleball an Olympic sport?
No. Pickleball is not included in the Paris 2024 or announced LA28 Olympic program. Its growing popularity does not change its current Olympic status.
Is squash in the 2024 Olympics?
No. Squash was not part of Paris 2024. It is scheduled to make its Olympic debut at LA28 in 2028.
Are tennis, badminton, and table tennis played with the same kind of racket?
No. Tennis rackets have a much larger strung head than badminton rackets, and table tennis uses a solid-faced paddle or bat. The equipment suits each sport’s ball or shuttle and style of play.
The answer to what racket sports are in the olympics depends on the edition: Paris 2024 featured tennis, badminton, and table tennis, while squash is scheduled to debut at LA28. Pickleball and racquetball are not on the announced Olympic program.
For a specific event, check the Games year first, then confirm its medal events and match format. That small step keeps current sports separate from future additions and exhibition appearances.