Motorboating, also known as powerboating, was contested at the Olympics only in 1908 in London. The competitions could hardly be called successful, with only one competitor finishing in each of the three events.
Until recently, the Olympic Charter precluded sports depending on mechanical propulsion from appearing on the Olympic Programme, preventing a return of motorboating to the Olympic fold. While this clause has now been removed, environmental considerations are part of the evaluation criteria of new sports, making a return still unlikely.
Governing all powerboating activities, the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) does have International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognition. Founded in 1922, the UIM has 64 affiliated national federations as of January 2026. One of the disciplines overseen by the UIM, MotoSurf, has débuted at the World Games in its latest edition, in 2025.
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