Ultimate frisbee started out in the 1900s when some dude and his friend tossed their tin pie holders at each other thinking "hey, this is kinda fun!" Who would have thought that this would evolve into one of the twenty first centuries' fastest growing sport. It is a sport that is sometimes described as a combination between football and soccer, but remains unique because it is played with a disc and not a ball. It fast paced, it's fun to watch, but it's not in the Olympics... yet.

The plays are always intense and sometimes unpredictable when it comes to extreme weather conditions. It is a simple game that's easy to follow along, but at the same time, keeps fans excited with the never ending momentum. The sport is growing at junior, local, national, and international levels and meets two major criteria to be an Olympic sport: it is not an all mental sport and it does not involve any mechanics (for example, chess and car racing). Another criteria is gender equity, and ultimate is definitely a growing sport attracting both genders with co-ed teams not being uncommon whatsoever. So, with it's exponential growth and its ability to attract fans around the world, why is it not an Olympic sport?

In the summer of 2015, the International Olympic Committee formally recognized Ultimate Frisbee. This is a huge step in the right direction, but does not necessarily mean it will be an event in the 2020 Olympics. According to UltiWorld.com, the sport didn't make the cut to be an event for the Tokyo Olympics. However, fans are still crossing their fingers that the sport will appear in the 2024 games.

While many are hoping that professional ultimate players are soon to be playing in the Olympics, Dave Zirin, a sports writer for The New York Times, believes that adding the sport to the international games could have a negative impact on "the spirit of the game," an overarching theme in the sport. This theme is seen in tournaments, as the sport doesn't have official referees, but instead relies on the players' good sportsmanship and spectators. However, Zirin isn't concerned about having to use official as much as he is with preserving the original intent of ultimate: having fun.

While he has a valid point, I think that athletes can still have fun while be recognized and honored for their athletic achievements. I truly think that adding ultimate to the largest international sporting event will grow the sport even more and create friendly competition between countries.