L.A. names coveted five provisional sports for 2028 Olympics
Are you ready for some football?
The flag version of America’s favorite sport took another step toward its Olympic debut on Saturday as Los Angeles organizers released a list of five “new” events they hope to include in the 2028 Summer Games.
Not surprisingly, LA28 also wants to reintroduce baseball and softball, which were played at the last Summer Olympics in Tokyo but will be missing in Paris next summer. Cricket, lacrosse and squash round out the list.
“We were ready to challenge the status quo and think differently about what is possible for the Games,” said Kathy Carter, executive director of the organizing committee.
The International Olympic Committee will have the final say will vote on LA’s recommendations at a meeting on October 16 in Mumbai. After months of discussions between the IOC and LA28 this summer, all five sports are likely to be approved.
The Olympic guidelines give each host city the opportunity to propose additions to the 28 sports – such as gymnastics, track and field and basketball – in the standard program. Always keen to build its brand, the IOC likes popular games that attract a new generation of fans.
Newcomers receive a one-time pass, with no guarantee of permanent validity. Surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing had their chance in Tokyo and did well enough to stay there. Breaking – also known as breakdancing – didn’t make it to 2028 and could be done for good after its Paris debut.
LA28 balanced relevance with economic feasibility, said Chairman Casey Wasserman, favoring sports that could be played at existing venues in Southern California.
Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons:
