Propelled by Demographic Shifts, Cities Adding International Sports Venues

Camogie is one of the sports contested by the United States Gaelic Athletic Association. Photo © David Ribeiro | Dreamstime.com
 

In Portland, Oregon, a community park has added – in conjunction with its renovated playground and 74 newly planted trees – the city’s first court for chinlone, a traditional sport of Myanmar.

In Eden Prairie, Minnesota, the game of sepak takraw (very similar to chinlone) was highlighted at a local middle school, with the intent of making it a community staple.

In Middlesex, New Jersey, a park overhaul will include a brand-new cricket field.

In Everett, Washington, korfball has been showcased to curious crowds.

Padel, which has been growing wildly internationally, is picking up speed in the U.S. in communities nationwide.

The U.S. has long been known as the big melting pot, bringing together traditions, food – and, yes, sports. In fact, many sports that are now mainstream were brought in by immigrants, including (but not limited to) soccer. Now, as demographics continue to shift, communities are putting in sports facilities recognized by specific populations.

Officials are looking to such venues as the centerpiece of community engagement.

“The new Mill Park will be a centerpiece of a lively community,” said Portland Parks & Recreation Director Adena Long in a news release about the changes – including the addition of the chinlone court.

Chinlone is a sport in which players pass a wicker ball using only their heads and feet. It is commonly played in Southeast Asia, especially Myanmar. The David Douglas School District in Portland is home to a significant population of students who belong to the Karen community of Myanmar.

While chinlone may not appear in the Olympics any time soon, another sport will: cricket, which appears as a showcase sport in 2028 in Los Angeles. (Cricket was last played in Summer Olympics in 1900.) And cricket fields are popping up everywhere; in fact, Round Rock, Texas described its ability to host the sport. Additionally, Grand Prairie Stadium was announced as a home for Major League Cricket.

Then there’s rugby, which might be a little more mainstream to many in the industry, considering it’s on the NCAA’s list of Emerging Sports for Women. Additionally, USA Rugby has been awarded the hosting rights in the 2031 and 2033 Rugby World Cups, men’s and women’s, respectively.

“Rugby has always had a strong foothold in the American collegiate system,” noted Jonathan Atkeison in an interview with SDM. “There are over 900 club rugby programs on campuses nationwide with a long and rich history of competition, in some cases over a century of existence, in fact. For many years, this was the main driver of growth for rugby in the United States and was the age at which most of our players were first exposed to the game.”

Padel, on the other hand, is an up-and-coming court sport that resembles both pickleball and tennis, with elements of squash and racquetball as well. It is played in doubles on an enclosed court with a synthetic turf surface. The court walls are made of glass and metallic mesh.

The sport, which originated in Mexico, has been making inroads in the USA. Its national governing body is the US Padel Association, whose mission it is to lead padel’s growth and development in the United States. The international governing body is the International Padel Federation (FIP). The sport’s growth in the USA has been primarily in clubs; however, that is expected to change as demographic shifts continue to propel padel forward.

The United States Gaelic Sports Association promotes play of Gaelic football, hurling and camogie. Sports are contested in leagues by clubs nationwide, with play leading up to championships.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to envision certain sports becoming popular here. At those times, it is essential to remember that many did not originate in the U.S. Soccer, for example, was introduced to the United States in the 1850s by immigrants from Scotland, Ireland, Germany, and Italy. The earliest known organized game of soccer in the United States was played in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1866. 

Baseball (y’know, the great American pastime) was created using elements from English games like cricket and rounders, as well as games from Egypt, the Mayans and France.

Oh, and football (we’re talking American football here) is the love child of soccer and rugby, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In fact, there aren’t a lot of sports in the U.S. that didn’t come from, or owe a debt to, the global sports scene – although there are some. World Lacrosse notes that lacrosse can be “traced back to the Indigenous peoples of North America, who played variations of the game as early as the 12th century. These early iterations were more than recreational, they held significant cultural and spiritual importance, often serving as rituals and training for war. The game’s evolution saw it adapt and grow in popularity, with various tribes and communities developing their unique rules and playing styles. European settlers in the 17th century observed and adopted lacrosse, which eventually helped lead to its widespread recognition.”

Then there’s cheerleading, a uniquely American sport, although it is contested globally these days. USA Cheer does note that “as long as civilization has formed groups, the idea of yelling encouragement has been around. Think about the crowds cheering for (or against) the gladiators at the coliseum in Rome.”

And over the years, sports have evolved, equipment has evolved and athletes have evolved. Cheer added elements of dance and gymnastics; protective clothing has become the norm in many sports and breakthroughs in medicine have allowed athletes to gain an edge in recovery from what might otherwise be career derailing injuries. The 1972 passage of Title IX added more opportunities for women to take part in sports, leading to the industry’s growth.

Many opportunities to explore sports from other countries can be found in municipal parks. In 2018, the National Parks & Recreation Association (NRPA) published its Parks Inclusion Report. The report noted, “Park and recreation agencies in an urban locale are more likely than agencies in other areas to offer programing and activities geared to multicultural, racial or ethnic communities, members of the LGBTQ community or refugee and immigrant communities.”

Many park sports facilities additionally provide an opportunity for those from other countries to connect with one another and to establish friendships and business relationships, particularly while adapting to life in the U.S.

“We are new in this city and it helps to share our experiences with others,” said Ender Mora, who makes it a point to meet with other immigrants at a park in Queens where many come to watch or play soccer. “Sometimes people come just to talk.” And while many are living in shelters and looking for jobs, he added, “coming here is good for all of us. We can escape our reality a little.”