UCL-funded courts for wallball open in Camden

The courts - two of which are in the Talacre sports centre in Kentish Town, with three other indoor and two outdoor courts available for use at the UCL Academy in Swiss Cottage - were opened with a demonstration from the UK Wallball team. The courts are free to use and aim to inspire a new generation of British sportsmen and women to take up what is hoped could be a new Olympic sport by the 2028 Olympic Games. Team GB's Wallball team will also train at the new facilities. Led by UK Wallball, the sport's representatives are bidding for Olympic status for the 2028 Olympic Games, as part of which it will be debut as a demonstration sport at the Rio Olympic Games. The World Games includes sports which are not yet Olympic sports, but many of which have the potential to be chosen in the future. Wallball originally gained popularity in New York City in the 19th Century, having been brought from Europe by Irish immigrants. There are now 2500 courts in the city, many of them on the street and free to use.