Experts say darts will soon become an Olympic sport

Littler for gold!

Experts have tipped stars such as Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen and World Darts Championship winner Luke Humphries to appear on the biggest stage within a matter of years, citing its "global appeal".

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games has seen several sports feature in new iterations, including sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing.

Breaking, meanwhile, has made its Olympic debut.

The sport, more commonly known as breakdancing, originated in the Bronx in the 1970s and has evolved into a competitive sport over a number of decades, complete with international events, a robust judging system and world championships.

Darts has enjoyed a similar evolution from being a pub game enjoyed by boozed-up locals to having an international series and a world championships every year at the brilliant Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally).

Its meteoric rise has led betting experts to tip it to become an Olympic sport very soon, with traders saying it could be introduced as early as 2036.

Early bidders to host the Games in 2036 include Nusantara in Indonesia, Istanbul in Turkey, Santiago in Chile and Ahmedabad in India.

The international tournament will head out to Los Angeles in the States next time out (2028) before going to Brisbane in 2032.

Bookies price darts at 5/1 to be introduced in LA and 10/3 to be included in the 2032 Games in Australia, where darts is already quite popular.

Odds on the 2036 Olympics are as short as 2/1!

Commenting on the prices, Andy Newton of fairbettingsites.co.uk said: “Darts has been back on the up for the last 10 years and with teenage sensation Luke Littler giving the sport another boost in the last 12 months, you feel it won’t be long before we are seeing some 180’s being called at the Olympics.

“With another four years till Los Angeles 2028, I’m expecting darts to continue its appeal across the globe and the 5/1 on offer on players representing their country at the next Olympics looks like a ‘bullseye’ of a price to me."