And just like that, the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are over. Last week marked the end of a summer of exciting sporting events in the French city. Although the Games are over, there is still a strong sense of Olympic fever, with the focus now shifting to Los Angeles as they host the 2028 Games.
For the third time, the Southern California city will host the Summer Olympics, but it won’t be the only item. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved the first or controversial return of several new and historic sports to Los Angeles.
These are all sports that will either make their debut or return to the Summer Olympics in 2028, along with a couple that may not have been revived but were featured in Paris.
Flag Football
Flag football is one of two sports to debut at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028.
According to the IOC, the men’s and women’s medal events of the non-contact version of American football will feature teams playing five-on-five on a 50-yard pitch.
Many are hoping that some of the NFL’s biggest stars will play in the inaugural game.
Earlier this year, the league’s players’ association confirmed, “The players want to do it.” Union president Lloyd Howell Jr. said in February that the players’ willingness to participate is something we encourage. “Okay, we’re on board.”
Howell continued, acknowledging that there are a few hurdles to overcome, such as training camp dates that coincide with the Olympics and potential injuries to key players.
Fans, however, can expect to see players like Jalen Hurts, Travis Kelce, and Patrick Mahomes — who recently appeared in a promotional film announcing flag football’s inclusion in the 2028 LA Games .
Squash
The racket and ball sport, which has been growing in popularity recently, will be included in its Olympic Games in 2028 in Los Angeles.
The sport, which is played in both singles and doubles formats, has already been rejected by the IOC four times in a row.
However, in 2028, the men’s and women’s singles medal events will finally make their much-anticipated debut in Los Angeles.
Cricket
As said earlier, LA is bringing back some classic sports that were once part of sports, including cricket, in addition to introducing some brand-new ones.
The game of cricket will return to the Games after a gap of 128 years. But this will be only the second Olympic competition for the sport.
Before today, it had only been seen once, in Paris in 1900. The six-team tournament will mark the gradual return of bat and ball to the competition.
Even with its return, it could be located more than 2,000 miles away from the host city of New York.
This is due to the fact that the Big Apple is expected to host some of the games as it is hosting many T20 World Cup games in the same year, and its venues are already well-arranged.
Baseball and Softball
Baseball and cricket, the two bat-and-ball sports that played out in Paris, are set to return to the Olympics in 2028, so cricket isn’t the only one.
The association of the two sports with the Olympics has been rather erratic. They recently competed in the 2020 Tokyo Games before they ended in Paris.
Baseball made its Olympic debut several years ago as a demonstration sport, but it wasn’t until 1992, when the Games were held in Barcelona, that it was added as a medal competition.
Since then, it has competed in every Olympics until the 2008 Games, when it was eliminated for the following Olympics and only reappeared in Tokyo.
Its sister event, softball, which has been scheduled for the Olympics five times, will also make a valiant return in 2028.
That being said, the game that started in Atlanta in 1996 will not be played in Los Angeles. Rather, it will be in Oklahoma City, more than 1,500 miles away.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is the fourth and final sport scheduled to return to Los Angeles in 2028. A fast-paced, short variation of field lacrosse known as sixes will be played in a contact game.
For the first time in 120 years, medals will be awarded at the Games in LA. Only three countries have been able to compete for the gold medal. Canada’s only two wins were in 1904 and 1908, which were up for grabs.
In 1904, they defeated America in their inaugural tournament. Four years later, they defeated Great Britain to win back-to-back Olympic crowns.
Field lacrosse was the format for both of these games, however, as previously indicated, World Lacrosse is the proposed sport for the 2028 Sixes.
Conclusion
The program of events has already been amended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as Paris gave way to Los Angeles as the host city for the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Proposals for four new Olympic sports, including cricket and lacrosse, which have not been played in the Games for more than a century, were approved by the IOC in 2023. All these above mentioned four sports have been approved for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics by August. 2024.
Ada Spark is a tech explorer and creative content creator with 6+ years of experience. Appreciate teamwork and creative strategies to promote content. Always looking to work according to the latest trends and create content that makes a difference. Also familiar with infographics and other forms of content.
