Parkour and freerunning activity can be demonstrated for 172 of the 205 nations, territories and political entities that participate in sport.
PanAmericaEngagement / Recognition: 2Appreciation / National Group Exists: 17Awareness / Demonstrated Activity: 37Total number of countries: 41
EuropeEngagement / Recognition: 4Appreciation / National Group Exists: 27Awareness / Demonstrated Activity: 49Total number of countries: 49
AsiaEngagement / Recognition:6Appreciation / National Group Exists: 27Awareness / Demonstrated Activity: 42Total number of countries: 44
Oceania:Engagement / Recognition: 1Appreciation / National Group Exists: 3Awareness / Demonstrated Activity: 10Total number of countries: 17
Oceania:Engagement / Recognition: 0Appreciation / National Group Exists: 12Awareness / Demonstrated Activity: 34Total number of countries: 53
There are 12 places around the world where parkour and freerunning organisations are already recognized by their national governments. And there are another 71 places with an identifiable national group. Usually, these groups are working on recognition. Asia and Europe are the continents where recognition is most advanced.
Around the world, many national parkour and freerunning organisations are on the edge of recognition. For some, the recognition process has been under way for as long as five years.
In other places, there is already recognition for parkour and freerunning but there is not yet a national group. China, is one such place.
Some national groups seeking recognition have chosen to align themselves with national sport-for-all or physical activity bodies instead of sporting organisations, for example in New Zealand.
Many parkour and freerunning organisations said their attempts at national support had been held back by the lack of international recognition. From Afghanistan, Ali Reza of Herat Freerunning said: “We approached the National Olympic Committee of Afghanistan for help, but they refused. They said that first we must be on the list of international sports.”
Similarly in Kashmir, Z Shafi said that he and his friends tried to train in Srinagar's only sports complex: “But we were thrown out The officials argued parkour isn't recognised as a sport in Kashmir.”
In Chile, Metropolitano de Parkour y Freerunning has been recognized by the government and is working on social programmes. But for full support, parkour and freerunning would first have to be added to the National Sports Institute of internationally recognised sports.
In the USA, where there is no national ministry for sport or physical activity, financial support for national sports groups is provided by the US Olympic Committee. But the USOC is only able to support those sports already recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
source “Mark Cooper”
