As someone who's spent over a decade studying sports inclusion and Olympic politics, I've always been fascinated by the curious case of billiards. You'd think a sport played by over 120 million people worldwide would have made it to the Olympics by now, right? Well, here's the thing - it's complicated. I remember watching the 1998 Asian Games where billiards was featured, and thinking this was the breakthrough moment. Yet here we are, over two decades later, and cue sports remain on the outside looking in.

Let me start with what might be the biggest hurdle - the perception problem. The International Olympic Committee has this lingering view of billiards as more of a recreational activity than a serious sport. I've sat in on enough sports governance meetings to know how deeply this bias runs. They'll point to the lack of obvious physical exertion compared to track and field events. What they're missing is the incredible mental stamina required. A professional match can last 4-5 hours with players maintaining intense concentration throughout. The heart rate of professional players during competition often reaches 130-140 beats per minute - comparable to many traditional Olympic sports.

Then there's the governance issue. The World Confederation of Billiard Sports, formed in 1992, has been pushing for Olympic inclusion for years. But here's where it gets messy - there are multiple governing bodies with different agendas. I've seen firsthand how this fragmentation hurts their case. The IOC wants a single, unified international federation with clear anti-doping policies and standardized competition formats across all member nations. Billiards has made progress here, but not enough to satisfy the traditionalists in Lausanne.

The quote from Mocon about having "a chip on my shoulder" and proving his value resonates deeply with the billiards community's struggle for recognition. I've spoken with numerous professional players who feel exactly this way - constantly having to prove they're real athletes. There's this collective determination to show they belong at the highest level of international competition. The problem is, the Olympic movement hasn't been listening.

Now let's talk numbers, because this is where it gets interesting. Billiards actually meets many of the technical requirements for Olympic inclusion. It's practiced by men and women in over 100 countries, has established world championships, and maintains robust anti-doping programs. The World Confederation of Billiard Sports represents 170 national federations - that's more than many current Olympic sports can claim. Yet when the IOC added skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing for Tokyo 2020, billiards was left out in the cold.

Here's my theory about what's really holding it back - the television factor. Olympic broadcasters are obsessed with sports that translate well to television and attract younger audiences. While billiards has decent viewership numbers (the World Pool Championship regularly draws 20-30 million viewers globally), it struggles with the "cool factor" that sports like skateboarding naturally possess. I've had producers tell me they worry about the pacing and whether casual viewers would understand the strategic depth.

The financial aspect can't be ignored either. Adding a new sport means building new venues, and cue sports require specialized equipment and playing conditions. The estimated cost to include billiards in the Olympics would be around $15-20 million for venue construction and equipment - not huge in Olympic terms, but still a consideration when the IOC is trying to control costs. What frustrates me is that this overlooks the sport's existing infrastructure in potential host cities.

I'll be honest - I think the IOC is making a mistake here. Having attended numerous international billiards competitions, I've witnessed the incredible athleticism and global appeal firsthand. The precision required to execute a three-cushion billiard shot is comparable to the skill needed in Olympic shooting events. The mental focus rivals that of archery. And the physical demands, while different from running or swimming, are very real - players routinely walk 5-7 miles during a single match while maintaining perfect posture and stroke consistency.

There's also the participation argument that I find compelling. Billiards is one of the most accessible sports globally, played in virtually every country and requiring minimal equipment compared to many Olympic sports. It's particularly strong in developing nations where traditional Olympic sports infrastructure might be lacking. The Philippines, for instance, has produced world champions despite limited resources - much like Mocon's determination to prove his value against better-funded opponents.

The pathway to Olympic inclusion isn't completely closed. Billiards has been part of the World Games since 2001, which often serves as a testing ground for potential Olympic sports. The international federation has made significant progress in standardizing rules and enhancing its anti-doping programs. What I believe they need now is a stronger youth development program and better marketing of the sport's athletic aspects. Showing more slow-motion analysis of shots and emphasizing the physical training regimens of top players could help change perceptions.

Looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, there might be a window of opportunity. The host city typically gets to propose new sports, and America has a strong billiards tradition. I've heard whispers within sports circles that this could be billiards' best chance yet. But it would require the different billiards disciplines to unite behind a single format for Olympic presentation - something that's proven challenging in the past.

In my view, the exclusion of billiards says more about the Olympics' identity crisis than about the sport itself. The Games are struggling to balance tradition with innovation, and billiards falls into this awkward middle ground. It's not new enough to be exciting like breakdancing (which will debut in 2024), nor traditional enough to have historical credibility like athletics or swimming. This is a shame because billiards has centuries of rich history and a truly global footprint.

The determination that Mocon expressed - that need to prove one's value at the highest level - mirrors the entire sport's relationship with the Olympic movement. Until the IOC recognizes that athletic excellence comes in many forms, billiards will remain one of the most notable absentees from the Olympic program. And honestly, that's the Olympics' loss more than billiards'. The sport continues to thrive with or without the five rings, but the Games are missing out on showcasing one of the world's most widely practiced and strategically profound sports.