Challenges to Olympic Inclusion: A Critical Analysis of the International Wushu Federation’s Strategies in Aligning With International Olympic Committee Program Reforms

Despite several attempts from the International Wushu Federation (IWUF) during the past 20 years, “wushu” (the collective noun for the Chinese martial arts) has not been included in the Olympic program. To understand why the IWUF has not been successful in achieving its Olympic ambition, this study applies a theoretical framework developed by Strittmatter and colleagues to critically analyze why, how and to what extent the IWUF has responded to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Olympic program reforms. Through qualitative analysis of IOC and IWUF's policy documents, this study examines the legitimating acts present in these policies. Findings indicate that the IOC, when reforming the Olympic program, prioritizes the potential benefits to the Games and host cities brought by introducing new sports. The IWUF's legitimating strategies comprise “substantive” strategies, such as a focus on technical evolution and strengthening international communication, and “symbolic” strategies, including more youth engagement, promotion of traditional wushu, and collaboration with the traditional wushu community. This paper discusses why the IWUF's policy initiatives have not been successful so far and explores the implications within the broader IOC policy context.