Olympics Announces Five New Sports for Los Angeles 2028 Run

The 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles (LA 2028) will be a showcase of not only longstanding sportsmanship traditions but also a celebration of innovation in the world of sports.

The 141st Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially included a list of five new sports to the program for LA28. These selections were proposed by the LA28 Organizing Committee as a special package for their edition of the Games and have received the approval of the IOC's Olympic Programme Commission and Executive Board.

The new sports added to the LA 2028 Olympics lineup include flag football and squash, whilst the sports of baseball, softball, cricket, and lacrosse are making a return after debuting in previous editions of the Olympics.

The most recent appearances include baseball and softball, which have been part of the latest edition of the Olympic Games at Tokyo 2020. Their return promises thrilling matches on the Olympic stage. On the other hand, cricket was first featured in the Olympic Games back in Paris in 1900. The game returns for LA 2028 Olympics and will take on an exciting T20 format that is sure to make its mark on the LA 2028 Olympics.

Lacrosse, which was part of the Olympic program in 1904 and 1908, is set to make a return, albeit in the sixes format, promising fast-paced action.

Making its Olympic debut, flag football brings the excitement of American football to the global stage. Alongside, squash offers a brand new dynamic and fast-paced racquet sport to the LA 2028 Olympics mix.

IOC President Thomas Bach expressed “The choice of these five new sports is in line with the American sports culture and will showcase iconic American sports to the world, while bringing international sports to the United States. These sports will make the Olympic Games LA28 unique. Their inclusion will allow the Olympic Movement to engage with new athlete and fan communities in the US and globally.”

In addition to these new sports, the IOC Session also supported the inclusion of modern pentathlon and weightlifting. Modern pentathlon will feature obstacle racing to replace horse riding, and weightlifting has been included after the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) made changes in anti-doping management and sanctions.

However, there has been no decision regarding the inclusion of boxing in the LA 2028 Olympics sports program following the withdrawal of recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA) by the IOC. Therefore, discussions on boxing's inclusion currently remain on hold.

For the full list of sports on the LA 2028 Olympics programme, click here.