The International Olympic Committee’s executive board has given the green light to the inclusion of five sports, including cricket and flag football, in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. These sports now face a final approval step before securing their spots at the Games.
The organizers of the LA 2028 Games had expressed their desire to introduce cricket, flag football, lacrosse, squash, and baseball-softball to the Olympic lineup.
According to IOC President Thomas Bach, these sport proposals have been accepted collectively by the IOC Executive Board. The ultimate decision rests with the IOC session, which will convene on Sunday to ratify the board’s recommendation.
Notably, cricket, with its massive following in India and a rapidly growing global audience, is poised for a return to the Olympics after making a solitary appearance in the 1900 Games.
While these five sports’ inclusion is currently designated for a single edition of the Games, they anticipate Olympic participation will provide a significant boost, facilitating growth and enhancing their appeal as part of the Olympic program in the upcoming four-year cycle.
Flag football, a non-contact variation of American football played by teams of five, is set to make its Olympic debut. Baseball, a sport featured in previous Games, has experienced intermittent inclusion but will not be part of the Paris Games. Similarly, softball, the female equivalent of baseball, has featured in five past Summer Games but was omitted from the Paris agenda.