With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games now behind us, attention is already turning towards the Los Angeles 2028 Games (LA28). The grand closing ceremony, featuring the likes of Tom Cruise and Billie Eilish, has left many eagerly anticipating what LA28 has in store. Particularly after Breaking emerged as a standout event in 2024 for, well, various reasons, curiosity is piqued about which new sports might be introduced at the next Olympic Games.
Spoiler alert: Breaking is no longer in the mix.
The buzz around the Olympic Breaking competition — especially after the viral sensation of Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn‘s performances — has heightened interest in what LA28 will offer.
Fans of the Olympic Games won’t have to speculate for long, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already approved five exciting new sports for LA28.
The five sports set to debut at LA28 include:
- Baseball/Softball
- Lacrosse Sixes
- Cricket (T20)
- Flag Football
- Squash
Baseball and Softball have appeared in past Olympics, most recently in Tokyo 2020. Lacrosse Sixes was also featured long ago, in the early 1900s in St Louis and London.
Cricket had its first Olympic appearance in Paris in 1900, while Flag Football and Squash will be making their Olympic debuts at LA28.
Upon confirming these additions, IOC President Thomas Bach remarked that the chosen sports align with American sports culture and will present iconic American sports to a global audience.
“Their inclusion will enable the Olympic Movement to connect with new athlete and fan communities, both in the US and worldwide.”
What is the sports programme for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games?
LA28 promises a packed schedule, featuring 36 categories in the sports programme!
Here’s the full list:
- Aquatics
- Archery
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Canoe
- Cricket
- Cycling
- Equestrian
- Fencing
- Flag football
- Football (AKA Soccer)
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Handball
- Hockey
- Judo
- Lacrosse
- Modern Pentathlon
- Skateboarding
- Softball
- Sport Climbing
- Squash
- Surfing
- Table Tennis
- Taekwondo
- Tennis
- Rowing
- Rugby
- Sailing
- Shooting
- Triathlon
- Volleyball
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling
To clarify, Breaking will not be part of LA28 (are we shocked?). It also seems that boxing has been completely removed from the lineup, which is quite disappointing!
The LA28 Games will commence on July 14, 2028, with the Paralympic Games starting on August 25, 2028.
Now… How do we get Goon of Fortune included in Brisbane 2032???
Image source: Getty Images / David Buono/Icon Sportswire and Ezra Shaw
