LA Olympics 2028: Five new sports to be played in world's biggest sporting event, including Cricket. Here're details

As the Paris Olympics comes to a close, attention is owed to what awaits the games in its 2028 edition in Los Angeles, California. While excitement is in abundance already with Hollywood actor Tom Cruise having kicked off the LA games countdown, the introduction of T20 Cricket after a century has players and fans around the world riled up.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had in 2023 approved the inclusion of cricket in the LA Olympics, making it the second time the game has been featured in the Olympics’ over 100 years of history.

However, the venue and the schedule for the T20 matches for the LA Olympics are yet to be confirmed, according to the Olympics’ official website.


Rather ironically, it was in the 1900 Olympics hosted for the first time in Paris that cricket was first introduced.

Only one men’s match was played over two days between Great Britain and France where the former claimed victory. While the Netherlands and Belgium were also in the fray, both countries later withdrew.

What else is new at the LA Olympics?

Breaking Dropped in LA Olympics: Only one sport was introduced in the Paris Olympics - breaking or break-dancing that will reportedly be scrapped for the 2028 edition in Los Angeles. However, five new sports are all set to be included in the upcoming Olympic games

Baseball/softball

Flag football

Lacrosse (sixes)

Squash

T20 cricket

These sports were officially included as additional sports on the LA28 programme after the decision was approved during the 141st Session of the IOC, informed olympics.com.

However, the Olympic debut will only be for squash and flag football as cricket, baseball, and lacrosse have earlier been played in the games. While baseball has been played in several editions with the most recent being in the Tokyo Olympics of 2020; lacrosse was played in St Louis in 1904 and London in 1908.

“The choice of these five new sports is in line with the American sports culture and will showcase iconic American sports to the world, while bringing international sports to the United States. These sports will make the Olympic Games LA28 unique,” said IOC President Thomas Bach, according to the official Olympics website.

“Their inclusion will allow the Olympic Movement to engage with new athlete and fan communities in the US and globally,” he added.