Netball Association of Malawi (NAM) has joined the global netball community in a campaign to compel the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include the sport at the 2032 Olympic Games to be hosted in Australia.
In the campaign dubbed “Back the Bid”, netball players, officials and fans are signing a petition calling for netball’s inclusion in the Summer Games.
This follows the World Netball’s announcement of its intention to push for the sport’s inclusion at the Olympics.
World Netball said in a statement: “World Netball congratulates the City of Brisbane on the announcement confirming that it will host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and declares its intention to work with Netball Australia to make a compelling case for netball’s inclusion in the Games.
“As the first step towards Olympic inclusion, a sport has to be governed by an IOC-recognised federation. World Netball achieved this recognition in 1995 and has enjoyed a good relationship with the IOC since then.
“World Netball acknowledges that the best opportunity to showcase netball on the Olympic stage will come when the host nation is a strong netball nation and one that supports and proposes netball’s inclusion to the IOC as one of its additional sports.
“As Netball Australia currently holds the number one world ranking and Sydney has already been confirmed as the host venue for the Netball World Cup 2027, 2032 provides the perfect opportunity.
In a statement, NAM called on Malawians to join the campaign via the link https://url.za.m.mimecas tprotect.com/The statement reads in part: “World Netball and netball nations from around the world are uniting to call for players, participants and fans to support a global campaign named ‘Back the Bid and sign a global pledge of support for netball’s inclusion in the Olympic Games Brisbane 2032.
“But we need your voice to make it happen. We are calling on every fan, player, coach, umpire and volunteers to join our mission.”
