This week, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially granted full recognition to the International Cheer Union (ICU). Jeff Webb, co-publisher of Human Events, serves as the President of the International Cheer Union.
"The IOC's actions have created a monumental milestone for cheerleading. We are truly honored to receive this recognition by the IOC," Webb said. "This decision will greatly assist us as we strive to create opportunities for healthy participation and competition for millions of cheerleading athletes worldwide."
The ICU and Cheerleading are now fully eligible to petition to be included in the Olympic Games and a variety of Olympic multi-sport Games. The recognition will help insure greater support and funding for Cheerleading development in many countries around the world.
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in the United States, the ICU began its journey to be recognized eleven years ago when it first applied to the IOC, receiving IOC provisional recognition in 2016. The ICU's mission is to positively advance cheerleading throughout the world. The organization has steadily built its membership and now has 116 National Cheer Federation members.
The ICU has developed educational training programs for athletes, coaches and officials and has been instrumental in creating standardized rules, as well as safety programs and regulations. In conjunction with its National Federation members, the ICU organizes and supports continental and regional competitions throughout the year, culminating in an annual World Championship, exceeding 10,000 athletes from 70 countries in 2019.
In other Olympic news, the IOC voted that Brisbane, Australia will host the Summer Games in 2032.
Australia is now set to become a three-time Olympic host, as reported by the New York Times. It previously held the Games in Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000.
The next three Summer Games are now officially scheduled. The 2024 Olympics will take place in Paris, and the 2028 Games will be in Los Angeles.
