No longer a sticky wicket: 5 new sports added to the 2028 Olympic roster

Let’s face it, no one is thinking as far ahead as 2028 (I don’t even know what I’m having for my tea!). But the super organised International Olympic Committee (IOC) board have been busy approving 5 new sports for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Set to join the sporting line up are cricket, flag football, lacrosse, squash and softball/baseball.

Most of these sports show a healthy popularity in the US, highlighting the return of the Games to this part of the world.

Last Friday, the IOC announced the return of cricket, which last appeared in the 1900 Games in Paris. President of the IOC, Thomas Bach, says “We see the growing popularity of cricket, particularly the T20 format”, which will be played by both female and male players alike.

The plan to showcase both cricket and these “iconic American sports to the world” will hopefully boost both participation in the Games and the spectatorship - all 5 sports having shown increasing popularity in the recent years.

Whilst these sports are advertised as ‘new’ to this global event, most have appeared before, making an Olympic comeback in 2028.

SOFTBALL/BASEBALL

This event has been part of the games on several occasions, most recently the Tokyo 2020 Games. Whilst not taking place next year in Paris, this sport will be back, for all participants, in the US, where it already has a major following.

CRICKET

As mentioned above, cricket has only appeared once in Paris back in 1900. One main reason behind its triumphant return is the sports vast social media following with more than 2.5 billion fans worldwide. For Los Angeles 2028, the games will hold both female and male T20 cricket, which has shown growing popularity in America recently.

FLAG FOOTBALL

As American football is the most popular sport in the US, it is only fitting that it joins the Olympic roster for LA2028. Focussing on the growing love for flag football (instead of the brutal tackle version), bringing this sport to the Games will represent the approximately 20 million players globally – also showing gender-balanced athlete participation!

LACROSSE

The one sport that always reminds me of either Teen Wolf or St Trinian’s (clearly knowledgeable on the subject…), lacrosse was created by the Indigenous Peoples of North America, spreading across the world by the 1800’s. Returning in 2028 will be the sports 3^rd appearance at the games, including St Louis 1904 and London 1908.

SQUASH

With a focus on the singles players, squash will be making an Olympic debut in the next 5 years. It appears, such as the other sports, that this addition is mainly due to its increase in popularity in the recent sporting years.

So, with 5 new sports joining the Olympic roster, which ones will you tune in for? And how far will the International Olympic Committee go for the inclusion of worldwide sport (let’s not forget about breaking in Paris 2024!)?