Kaatsen at the 1928 Summer Olympics

The IOC allowed for two demonstration sports to be held at the 1928 Olympics. One of these was reserved for a national sport, specific to the host nation, but unknown internationally, and one for an international sport, but unknown in the host nation. While korfball had been selected as the “national” demonstration sport, kaatsen’s application to be demonstrated was met with enthousiasm from the organizing committee, which decided to stage a third, unofficial demonstration sport. Nevertheless, the sport is described in the Official Report in the same manner as the other two demonstrations, which is why we have also listed it here.

Kaatsen, which is similar to former Olympic sports pelota and jeu de paume, was and is primarily played in the northern Dutch province of Friesland. The Dutch federation is a member of the International Ball Game Confederation, which organized World Championships in various variants of jeu de paume.