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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
William Mata

Which sports are in and out of LA 2028 Olympics?

The countdown to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has officially begun, with representatives taking the torch at the Paris closing ceremony

As well as some memorable performances and viral moments, the 33rd Olympiad presented breakdance and formula kite for the first time. 

There is plenty more action still to come when the Paralympics gets underway but, off the sporting field, there is already a fight for some sports to be included next time around. 

While some Olympic sports (swimming, athletics, gymnastics) are more or less safe, others have a more perilous existence and federations face battles to earn their places.

Here are the sports that will be coming and going in four years’ time. 

What sports will be added to the programme in LA 2028?

It was revealed in 2023 that the number of sports at the 2028 Olympic Games will expand. 

This will see flag football (also known as American football) and squash added to the programme for the first time. 

Lacrosse will be back for the first time since 1908 and cricket will return, having been absent since 1900. 

Baseball and softball will make a comeback after the considerably shorter gap of having not appeared since Tokyo 2020. 

These will all be considered ‘optional’ sports, meaning they can be dropped by organisers of Brisbane 2032. 

Sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing have been upgraded to core sports, meaning they will be featured in games to come. All three debuted at Tokyo 2020.

Which sports will be dropped? 

Breakdancing is the only sport to have been confirmed to drop out of the next Olympics. 

There are discussions over whether boxing could be dropped as it is facing organisational issues but remains on the bill. Weightlifting also faces an uncertain future. 

Modern pentathlon looked set to go over controversy surrounding the equestrian element but it remains as the sport has been revised to replace that with an obstacle course.

Karate, contested at Tokyo 2020, has been dropped and not brought back.

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