POLE DANCING has been officially recognised as a proper sport – and now wants to make it into the OLYMPICS. The fitness activity, which has traditionally been associated with strip clubs, could now be set to be unveiled on the biggest stage in international sport.

Campaigner Katie Coates, 41, finally won her 11-year fight after the Global Association of International Sports Federation (GAISF) confirmed the activity would now be classed as a professional sport last week. Katie, president of the international pole sports federation (IPSF), is now aiming for it to become a part of the Olympic Games. She began the long road to getting pole dancing recognised as a sport in 2006, when she started a petition to get it into the Olympics which attracted more than 10,000 signatures.