What five new sports will feature in 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?
After the conclusion of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Sunday, attention is now shifting towards the next edition in Los Angeles 2028.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the addition of five new sports to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic program, as proposed by the LA28 Organizing Committee.
The sports are:
- Baseball/Softball
- Cricket
- Flag Football
- Lacrosse
- Squash
Baseball, which made its debut as a demonstration sport at the Paris 1900 Olympics, will return to the program after a long absence since being removed following the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Softball, which first appeared at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics and was part of the Olympic program until the Beijing 2008 Olympics before making a temporary return in Tokyo 2020, will also be included.
Cricket will make a return to the Olympics after more than a century, last featured in the Paris 1900 Olympics. The Los Angeles 2028 Games will include T20 cricket tournaments for both men and women.
Lacrosse, which first appeared in the St. Louis 1904 and London 1908 Olympics, will return with a new format called “World Lacrosse Sixes,” featuring fast-paced matches consisting of four periods of eight minutes each.
Flag Football, a non-contact version of American football, will make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028.
Squash, which has long awaited its inclusion in the Olympic program, will finally have its chance in Los Angeles in 2028 as an individual event. With top-ranking Egyptian players, Egypt is looking to make a significant impact in this sport.
As for sports that might be excluded, breakdancing, which made its debut in Paris 2024 as the first dance sport in the Olympic program, may not be included in the next games.
Boxing also faces the risk of exclusion, with the IOC stressing the need for changes to modern pentathlon and weightlifting to ensure their continued presence in the program.
