The Role of Football at the Olympics

With the football season still at a halt, and with the Euros behind us, the good news is that the Olympics provide the perfect opportunity for football fans to stay connected with the sport. As the most popular sport in the world, and the most popular for bettors too, there’s a great deal of excitement. Already, plenty of punters are hunting down the most competitive odds for outrights for Olympics 2024 in France, Paris so that they can back their countries.

If you’re new to the world of Olympic football, you may find it a little different to what you’re used to. As you read on, we’re going to explore the roots of the sport and what makes the Olympic version unique.

 

A Look at How it all Started

If you look at the history of sports betting, this is just as interesting as the history of football’s inclusion in the Olympics. The sport first appeared at the Games back in 1900. Just as in 2024, Paris was once again the host. To be fair, the presence of football hardly set the sports world alight. Its inclusion was less than competitive as it was British teams that dominated, with no one else coming close. That explains why it wasn’t a regular fixture going forward, with it being excluded in 1924 and 1928.

This period was a real setback for the sport. With the ruling body not committed to football, it became almost impossible to take it forward and to create a more balanced, and competitive tournament.

Modern Era Resurgence

It would take until 1992, and the Barcelona Games for football to see a real turning point in its Olympic journey. This time around, the tournament was brought into the limelight with an unprecedented amount of attention and focus. With this success, the 1996 Olympics also saw women’s football being included.

With both male and female tournaments, football suddenly had a broader appeal. Today, women’s football is hugely popular and has gained an amazing following. However, it’s fair to say that it was the 1996 Olympics that first put it on the world stage.

Olympic Rules

Generally speaking, no matter where you play it, football is football. That’s the case at the Olympics too, but there is one significant difference: an age restriction. As it stands, teams have to be made up of players no older than 23 years. Some leeway has been given, allowing each team to have no more than three players over that age. This rule has caused plenty of debate in the sport. It’s clear that it allows a nation to develop their youth teams, but it also prevents them from fielding what may be their strongest players.

There are plenty of people who argue that this rule has damaged football at the Olympics. They would say that it has reduced the competitive nature of the sport by denying countries the opportunity to include established stars. For others, though, this is a draw. They believe that the exclusion of such stars makes the outcome less predictable, allowing underdogs to shine.

Olympic Rivalry

While household names may be missing from the lineups, that certainly doesn’t do away with the rivalry that you’d expect to see. Just as in the wider footballing world, when there are clashes between the likes of Brazil and Argentina, everyone sits up and takes note. These are teams that have a significant history of clashes, and the possibility of a gold medal just adds to the tension.
 

The Future of Football at the Olympics

The popularity of football shows no sign of waning. In fact, it continues to soar and it now appears to be a solid part of the Olympic Games. The 2024 Olympics promises a real spectacle for football fans, especially those who like to bet. The markets here are exciting and that’s down to the less predictable nature of the sport when it’s at the Games.

Football will continue to be a focal point of the Olympics going forward. With fans crowding to cheer on their nations, organisers would now be fools to try and exclude the sport again.