The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board on Friday has approved the five additional sports proposed by the Organising Committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic programme, but boxing is back on hold.
Cricket, baseball and softball, flag football, lacrosse and squash all received backing from the Executive Board.
In addition, Modern pentathlon, featuring obstacle racing, and weightlifting have also been restored to the programme.
IOC President Thomas Bach claimed the programme would be well suited to the Summer edition of the Olympic Games’ return to the US for the first time since Atlanta 1996.
“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,” he said.
“These sports will make the Olympic Games LA28 unique.”
Cricket is set return to the programme for the first time since Paris 1900 under the Twenty20 format.
Baseball and softball is back on the programme having featured for the first time in three editions at Tokyo 2020, and lacrosse is due to be played under the sixes format for its third appearance after St Louis 1904 and London 1907.
On boxing, President Thomas Bach stressed the IOC wanted it to be included at Los Angeles 2028 and would rule out a Task Force managing the sport for a third consecutive Olympics, insisting the issue would be resolved as it progresses.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) in June became the first-ever governing body to be expelled from the Olympic movement due to concerns with its finances, governance and the credibility of boxing competitions and a deterioration in relations with the IOC under President Umar Kremlev of Russia.
World Boxing was formed in April seeking recognition from the IOC, but currently has only 16 National Federations and Bach said prior to the Executive Board meeting it does not have “sufficient global representation”.
