In the 141st session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a significant decision was made to expand the roster of sports for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The Olympic Programme Commission and Executive Board officially gave their nod to the inclusion of five new sports: baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse, and squash. This move comes after the LA28 Organizing Committee had proposed these additional sports just last week.
Among these sports, baseball, softball, cricket, and lacrosse have had previous appearances at the Olympics, while flag football and squash are set to make their Olympic debut. It’s important to note that the IOC considers baseball and softball as a package deal, hence the count of five new sports rather than six.
Adding new sports to the Olympics every four years is a customary practice for Olympic hosts. These provisional sports enjoy full event status, funding, and awards, but their continued inclusion in future Games isn’t guaranteed.
It’s official! We’ve added brand new sports to our #LA28 Olympic Games lineup.
⚾️ Baseball, 🥎 Softball, 🚩🏈 Flag Football, 🥍 Lacrosse, ⚫️ Squash, 🏏 Cricket
Get more info on LA28’s full Olympic sport program: https://t.co/4CSIlhkBiI pic.twitter.com/c2ZOcy2EK8
— LA28 (@LA28) October 16, 2023
Notably, the LA 2028 schedule initially had nine sports competing for inclusion, meaning that four sports didn’t make the cut. Breaking (commonly known as breakdancing), which is set for Paris 2024, won’t feature in the 2028 Games. However, surfing, skateboarding, and sport climbing, which made their debut in Tokyo, are set to continue in the Olympic program.
The decisions about which sports to include may have been influenced by the availability of suitable venues in the Los Angeles area. LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman emphasized the importance of selecting sports that could be played at existing venues in Southern California, aligning with the organizers’ vision of making the Games accessible to local communities.
