Netball will feature at the Olympics for the first time at the Brisbane 2032 Games, reports from Australia claim.
The sport, which boasts 13 million active players across 120 countries, World Netball says, will join the Olympics programme in Brisbane thanks to the advocacy of key Olympic figures like Australian Olympic Committee honorary life president John Coates, Code Sports reported.
The report claimed its inclusion is a “virtual done deal” and the announcement is expected imminently.
But the decision will not be ratified until the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meets in the Dominican Republic next year to make a final vote on the sports to be given Olympic status.
Netball has traditionally been dominated by Commonwealth nations and has been a medal sport at the Commonwealth Games since 1998.
New Zealand have won gold three times at the Commonwealth Games, including at its most recent edition in Glasgow, trailing Australia’s four gold medals in the overall honours roll, while England have won once.
The Silver Ferns are currently ranked as the second-best team in the world behind Australia, who they beat 3-1 in the latest Constellation Cup series, winning the title for the fourth time in its history.
Australia managed to keep their No 1 status thanks to a consolation win over New Zealand in the competition.
Six sports were approved by the IOC to appear in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, including cricket, baseball, flag football, lacrosse, squash and softball, but there is no guarantee they will feature in Brisbane four years later.
Of these sports to be included in 2028, only squash and flag football have not featured at a Summer Olympics before in any capacity.
Other sports such as race walking, canoe slalom, skateboarding and modern pentathlon could also be on the chopping block for 2032, but a decision on which sports won’t feature will be made in December.
Netball New Zealand has been approached for comment.