Navarra recognizes Pole Sport as an official sporting modality

The Navarre Institute of Sport and Physical Activity (INDAF) has approved the request submitted by the Pole Dance Sport and Art Sports Association and has officially recognized Pole Sport as a sporting modality within the Foral Community of Navarra. This is stated in Resolution 468/2026, of August 12, by the managing director of INDAF, Jorge Aguirre Oviedo, published in the Official Gazette of Navarra number 170, of August 28, 2026 (reference F2611091).

The recognition of sporting modalities and specialties is a specific competence of the Sports Administration of the Foral Community, pursuant to article 6.2.c) of the Foral Law 15/2001, of July 5, on Sport in Navarra. Article 47 of the same regulation establishes the criteria that must be assessed to determine the existence of a sporting modality eligible for official recognition, criteria which the resolution analyzes one by one.

Criteria justifying the recognition

The resolution concludes that Pole Sport meets the required legal requirements. Among the assessed elements, the following stand out:

• Differentiated identity: an activity with its own technical, regulatory, and organizational elements, performed on a fixed or rotating vertical pole, with movement mechanics and technical demands distinct from traditional gymnastic disciplines.
• Consolidated technical rules: competitive practice is regulated by the regulatory framework of the International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF), which includes technical regulations, a scoring code, categories, and safety protocols.
• International recognition: a consolidated organizational structure through the IPSF and national representation via the Spanish Pole Sport Association (AEPS), with regular world championships.
• Implementation in Navarra: the existence of entities that continuously carry out training, promotion, and competition activities.

Entities and effects for clubs

The implementation of the discipline in Navarra is accredited by the activity of several entities, including:

• Pole Dance Sport and Art Sports Association, the requesting entity.
• Pole Dance Pamplona Backflip.
• Luxury Pole Fitness.

The recognition will allow Navarrese clubs to join the sports registry and come under the protection of INDAF, as well as apply for calls for sporting events and championships of significant importance. The resolution emphasizes that this recognition does not entail organizational, technical, or economic detriment to any sports federation in Navarra, nor does it imply the recognition of a federation, which is governed by other criteria.

Appeal and validity

This resolution does not exhaust administrative remedies. An administrative appeal (recurso de alzada) may be filed against it before the Counselor of Culture, Sport and Tourism within one month of its publication, in accordance with articles 121 and 122 of Law 39/2015, of October 1, on the Common Administrative Procedure.

With this decision, Navarra joins the trend of officially recognizing a discipline with growing implementation and international projection, providing legal and organizational coverage to the athletes and clubs that practice it in the Foral Community.

Source: Official Gazette of Navarra, number 170, August 28, 2026, pp. 30899-30903 (official reference: F2611091).