The organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics have proposed the inclusion of five new sports in addition to the existing ones.
The new sports recommended by Los Angeles 2028 are cricket, flag football, lacrosse, squash, and softball/baseball.
These recommendations are subject to final approval by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with a session set for Mumbai later this month.
However, the Los Angeles Times reported that these sports are likely to be approved.
The LA 28 organizers will make their recommendations public in the next few days, according to the Guardian. Of the five sports, three have never been included in an Olympic program.
Flag football, an attractive option for the US-based Games, given the overwhelming popularity of the National Football League (NFL), squash, and lacrosse would make their Olympic debut if approved.
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Cricket, which enjoys enormous global appeal, is set to return to the Olympics after appearing once before at the 1900 Games.
The success of women’s cricket at the 2022 Commonwealth Games paved the way for its inclusion.
However, the International Cricket Council did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Baseball has been included in several prior Games and was added back to the Tokyo program after it was left out in 2012 and 2016.
However, it will not be a part of the Paris Games. Softball, which is contested by female athletes, has appeared at five previous editions of the Summer Games and was also left off the Paris agenda.
The inclusion of these sports will expand the range of events and provide a platform for athletes from diverse sporting backgrounds to showcase their skills at the Olympics.
