Organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics have officially recommended the addition of cricket, flag football, lacrosse, squash, and baseball-softball to the event. These recommendations are subject to final approval by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with a session scheduled in Mumbai later this month. According to reports, the inclusion of these sports is likely to be approved.
Kathy Carter, CEO of LA28, stated, “In building the Olympic sport program, we were willing to challenge the status quo and think differently about what’s possible for the Games in Los Angeles. We’ve landed on a bold and balanced proposal that will energize the Games with culturally relevant competition and boundless possibility.”
If approved, three of these sports—flag football, squash, and lacrosse—would make their Olympic debut. Cricket, a sport with significant global appeal, would return to the Olympics after its last appearance in 1900, following the successful inclusion of women’s cricket at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Greg Barclay, Chairman of the International Cricket Council, expressed excitement about the potential return of cricket to the Olympics, stating, “Whilst this is not the final decision, it is a very significant landmark towards seeing cricket at the Olympics for the first time in more than a century.”
Baseball, which has featured in previous Games, was added to the 2020 Tokyo program and is now proposed for inclusion in 2028. However, it will not be part of the Paris Games. Softball, the female counterpart to baseball, has appeared in five previous Summer Games and is also proposed for inclusion.
The IOC has expressed that the LA28 proposal for additional sports was “well received.” The final decision will be made following a review by the Olympic Program Commission and subsequent presentations to the IOC Executive Board and IOC Session in Mumbai.
These proposed additions aim to bring fresh and culturally relevant competition to the 2028 Olympics and expand the appeal of the Games.
