LA Olympics: organisers propose cricket, flag football, lacrosse, squash to make debuts 2028 Games
- Cricket could return after more than a century, while baseball and softball also being considered
- The proposal will be presented to International Olympic Committee later this month for approval
Organisers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics want cricket, flag football, lacrosse, squash, baseball and softball added to the event, they said on Monday.
The organisers’ recommendations are subject to final approval by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with a session set for Mumbai later this month. The Los Angeles Times reported that the sports are likely to be approved.
“In building the Olympic sport programme, we were willing to challenge the status quo and think differently about what’s possible for the Games in Los Angeles,” Kathy Carter, CEO of the organising committee, said in a statement.
“We’ve landed on a bold and balanced proposal that will energise the Games with culturally relevant competition and boundless possibility.”
Of those five sports, three have never been included in an Olympic programme. Flag football, squash and lacrosse would make their Olympic debuts, if approved.
“We are one huge step closer to a monumental milestone for our sport and international community,” World Lacrosse, the sport’s governing body, said in a statement. “We are on a path of ascendancy, and will be a great partner for LA28 and the IOC.”
Cricket, which enjoys enormous global appeal, would return after appearing once at the 1900 Games, following the tremendous success for women’s cricket at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“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,” Greg Barclay, International Cricket Council chairman, said.
Baseball featured in several previous Games. It was added to the 2020 Tokyo programme after being left off in 2012 and 2016, but will not be a part of the Paris Games. Softball, the female counterpart to baseball, has appeared at five previous editions of the Summer Games and was also left off the Paris agenda.
An IOC spokesman said the LA28 proposal for the additional sports was “well received.”
“Following the review by the Olympic Programme Commission, a recommendation will be made to the IOC Executive Board [on October 12 to 13 in Mumbai]. If accepted, it will then be presented to the IOC Session [on October 15 to 17] for approval,” the spokesman said. “We are looking forward to the upcoming presentations.”
