Cricket Among 5 Sports Added to 2028 LA Olympics
Cricket Among 5 Sports Added to 2028 LA Olympics
As the Olympic flame prepares to journey from Paris to Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made noteworthy updates to the sports lineup.
In a landmark decision in 2023, the IOC approved the inclusion of five new sports for the 2028 Games, including the much-anticipated return of cricket and lacrosse, which have not been seen in the Olympics for over a century.
Cricket
Cricket, the world's second most popular sport, has only appeared once before at the Olympics, at the Paris Games in 1900.
The 2028 LA Olympics will mark cricket's return, with the fast-paced Twenty20 (T20) format selected for the event.
Squash
Squash will make its long-awaited Olympic debut in 2028. Previously, it was featured as a demonstration sport at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, but it will now compete for medals in LA.
Baseball/Softball
The 2028 Olympics will also see the return of baseball and softball, combined into one sport for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
However, unlike the other events, these competitions will take place in Oklahoma City, utilizing pre-existing sports facilities.
Flag Football
Flag football, a variant of American football with no physical contact, will debut as an Olympic sport in 2028.
Both men's and women's divisions will compete, with the United States and Mexico expected to be strong contenders.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse, a sport with deep roots in North American history, will return to the Olympics in its Lacrosse Sixes format, a fast-paced version of the traditional game.
This marks the third time lacrosse has been featured in the Olympics, appearing in 1904 and 1908.
Sports Being Cut from the 2028 Olympics
Break Dancing
Breaking, which made its Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Games, will not continue in Los Angeles.
Despite its initial excitement, the sport failed to gain the necessary traction, with some performances, like that of Australia’s RayGun, receiving negative reactions.
Boxing
Boxing's future in the 2028 Olympics is uncertain. The sport is at risk of exclusion due to the lack of a recognized global governing body.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) lost its IOC recognition in 2023 due to governance issues, leaving the sport's inclusion in the hands of the broader boxing community.
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