The International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave a green light this Monday to an expanded Olympic program, confirming that five sports will be added to the Paris 2024-Plus horizon for Los Angeles 2028. Baseball and softball will return to the Olympic stage, cricket in its Twenty20 format will join the program, flag football will appear as a non-contact adaptation of American football, and lacrosse will be featured in the Sixes format. Additionally, squash will be introduced as part of the LA28 lineup, marking a notable evolution in the Games beyond Tokyo 2020 and Paris 1900 retrospectives.
These five sport proposals underwent a rigorous review by the Olympic Program Commission and were then advanced to the full Executive Committee for final approval. The process emphasized alignment with international competition standards and logistical feasibility, ensuring that existing facilities could support competitive play across diverse regions.
Consequently, baseball and softball will return to Olympic competition, while cricket will be reintroduced after a 128-year absence dating back to Paris 1900. Lacrosse makes its third appearance, following Saint Louis 1904 and London 1908. Flag football and squash will also make their Olympic debuts in the French capital, signaling a broadening of sport offerings to engage new audiences.
Officials highlighted that the selection of these five sports reflects broad American sports culture and aims to bring globally popular activities to the Olympic stage, fostering worldwide participation while highlighting U.S. athletic traditions. The IOC’s decision was described as creating a distinctive and compelling program for the 2028 Games.
LA28 President Casey Wasserman remarked on the opportunity presented by Los Angeles, calling the city home to a platform that could showcase what the Games offer to the world. He spoke about pursuing innovative collaborations with major professional leagues to expand Olympic and Paralympic engagement and to attract new audiences from diverse communities.
In addition to the five newly added sports, the IOC Session approved the Executive Board’s recommendation to include a modern Pentathlon program for LA28, with certain changes, including replacing the riding discipline with obstacle-course racing. The International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) was acknowledged for its efforts to reduce costs and streamline competition through these adjustments.
The IOC stressed that UIPM would continue to implement essential governance reforms to ensure the sport remains viable and relevant within the Olympic framework. These changes were deemed necessary to maintain the integrity and manageability of modern pentathlon as part of the Games.
Further, the IOC confirmed the continuation of weightlifting within the Los Angeles 2028 program through the end of 2028, following the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) decision to transfer anti-doping oversight to the International Testing Agency (ITA) and to comply with CAS rulings in related sanctions.
It was noted that the IOC did not recognize any alternate governing body for Olympic boxing, with the International Boxing Association (IBA) still facing unresolved questions about its status for 2028. Consequently, the final status of boxing on the LA28 program remained pending, pending continued governance discussions and approvals.
Finally, the LA28 program featured only one substantive modification across its sport modalities versus Paris 2024: the inclusion of beach sprint events for men, women, and a mixed two-oar configuration, reflecting a streamlined approach to racing disciplines in the beach setting.