The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that it will not make a final recommendation on the additional sports to be included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics this week, as originally planned. The decision has been delayed due to ongoing discussions between the IOC and the LA28 Organising Committee.
Nine sports vying for inclusion
The nine sports that are seeking to be part of the LA28 Olympic sports programme are cricket, flag football, karate, kickboxing, baseball-softball, lacrosse, breakdancing, squash and motorsport. Each sport has submitted its proposal to the IOC, highlighting its potential contribution to the Olympic values, youth appeal, gender equality, sustainability and legacy.
The IOC was expected to discuss the proposals at its executive board meeting on Friday, September 8, 2023, and make a final recommendation to the IOC Session, which is the supreme decision-making body of the IOC. However, the IOC said in a statement that the Olympic Programme Commission, which is responsible for evaluating the proposals, has not yet had the opportunity to hold its meeting and prepare its final recommendation.
“As a consequence, the sports programme for the Olympic Games LA28 will be discussed during a later IOC Executive Board meeting, to take place at a date to be decided,” the IOC said.
Host city can propose new sports
According to the Olympic Charter, the host city of each edition of the Olympic Games can propose a number of additional sports for inclusion in its Games, subject to the approval of the IOC. The aim is to allow the host city to reflect its culture and preferences, as well as to attract new audiences and participants.
Of the nine sports that are vying for inclusion in LA28, karate and baseball-softball were part of the Tokyo 2020 Games, while breakdancing, sport climbing, skateboarding and surfing will feature in Paris 2024. Cricket is seen as a strong contender for LA28, given its massive popularity in Asia and other parts of the world. Flag football, kickboxing, lacrosse and motorsport are also hoping to make their Olympic debut in Los Angeles.
The LA28 Organising Committee has the authority to decide on several sports to be included in its Games, but it has not revealed how many it will propose. The final decision on the disciplines, events, quotas and competition formats will be made by the IOC Executive Board in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
LA28 promises innovative and diverse Games
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will be the third time that the city hosts the Games, after 1932 and 1984. The LA28 Organising Committee has promised to deliver an innovative and diverse Games that will showcase the best of American culture and sport.
The LA28 Games will use existing or temporary venues across four distinct areas: Downtown Los Angeles, Valley Sports Park, South Bay Sports Park and Long Beach Sports Park. The opening and closing ceremonies will take place at two iconic venues: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium.
The LA28 Games are expected to attract more than 10 million spectators and generate more than $5 billion in economic impact for Southern California. The LA28 Organising Committee has also pledged to create a positive social and environmental legacy for the city and its communities.
