As the International Olympic Committee (IOC) prepares to finalize the Olympic program for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, five new sports have been proposed: baseball and softball, cricket and lacrosse, squash, and flag football. The IOC will consider the proposals at meetings in Mumbai, India, starting later this week. If approved, the new sports would be added to the existing 28 sports in the Olympic program.
Baseball and softball have been in and out of the Olympic program, last appearing in 2020. While they appeared in the most recent Olympics, the IOC has not included either sport in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Cricket could return to the Olympics for the first time since 1900, while flag football and squash could debut in 2028 if the IOC approves the proposed new sports. Lacrosse has been officially contested at two Olympic Games, in 1904 and 1908, and featured as a demonstration sport at three Olympic Games, in 1928, 1932, and 1948. Squash, which has previously failed in bids for the 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024 Summer Olympics, is now at its best chance of being included.
The LA28 website states that its proposed sports lineup for the 2028 Summer Games reflects the “diversity, optimism, and creativity of Los Angeles.” The proposal “harnesses the power of global sport in a fiscally responsible way to revitalize the Games with fresh, forward-thinking energy. It will strengthen relationships with international federations and professional leagues, delivering new excitement to existing Olympic fans and welcoming a new generation of athletes and fans to join in co-creating the future.”
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Five sports have been proposed by the @LA28 Organising Committee for inclusion at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in five years' time:
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) October 9, 2023
⚾ Baseball-softball
🏏 Cricket
🏈 Flag football
🥍 Lacrosse
⚫ Squash
The final decision will be made in the coming days. pic.twitter.com/kU1303jY0A
While the most recent proposals for sports in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics are stirring buzz, 28 sports have already been approved for competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The sports are aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, canoe, cycling, equestrian, fencing, soccer, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, rowing, rugby, sailing, shooting, skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, and wrestling. Boxing will be added to the Olympic program for 2028, while modern pentathlon and weightlifting are still anxiously awaiting a decision about the inclusion of their sport in the Games.
