▲

As the countdown to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles has begun, anticipation is building around which athletes will return, as well as which sports. Every Olympic cycle brings changes, and this time is certainly no different. The lineup of events promises to celebrate tradition while embracing innovation, with new sports making their debut and others bowing out.

Whether you’re a fan of adrenaline-pumping action or time-honored competition, the 2028 Games are set to shake things up. Click through this gallery to see which sports will or won’t be part of the next chapter of the Summer Olympics.

▲

Sports are chosen for the Olympics based on their global popularity and widespread participation. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) considers the number of countries and athletes regularly competing in the sport to ensure broad international interest.

▲

The Olympic Charter specifies that for a sport to be accepted, it must be widely practiced by men in at least 75 countries across four continents and by women in at least 40 countries across three continents.

▲

For the first time since 1908, lacrosse will be featured as a sport in the Summer Olympics. The sport's return will likely feature the fast-paced, shortened format called "Sixes," which is designed to be more dynamic and viewer-friendly.

▲

Lacrosse is a team sport played with a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick with a netted pouch, known as a crosse. The goal is to score by shooting the ball into the opponent's net. It combines elements of hockey, soccer, and basketball, requiring agility, speed, and teamwork.

▲

Lacrosse has only been featured in two Olympic Games in the past, one in 1904 and the other in 1908. Both Games saw Canada take home the gold medal, so many fans will be watching in 2028 to see if they take home a third.

▲

Cricket will be returning to the Summer Olympics in 2028 after more than a century of absence. The sport was last played at the Games in 1900, which saw Great Britain take home the gold medal. Cricket’s inclusion will focus on the T20 format, a shorter, more dynamic version of the game.

▲

Cricket is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams, traditionally consisting of 11 players each. The sport's objective is to score more runs than the opposing team, with a match divided into innings where each team alternates between batting and fielding.

▲

Aside from Great Britain, the only other country that played cricket in the 1900 Games was France. Its inclusion in the 2028 Olympics is seen as a significant move to globalize the sport further.

▲

Baseball has had quite a tumultuous history at the Summer Olympics. It unofficially debuted at the 1900 Games in Paris, but it only became an official sport in 1992, after which it was excluded thrice. The baseball event was not featured in this year’s Olympics, but it will be returning in full force in 2028.

▲

Much like cricket, baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players who take turns batting and fielding. The objective is to score runs by hitting the ball and running around four bases arranged in a diamond shape on the field.

▲

Since Los Angeles will be hosting the Games in 2028, baseball’s inclusion is seen as a nod to the sport’s American roots. However, it is unclear whether the event will return to the Olympic stage after that.

▲

Softball was first introduced to the Olympics in 1996 and, just like baseball, it was excluded from the 2012 Games, as well as the 2016 and 2024 Games. Of the five appearances that the sport has made, the United States has won the gold medal three times.

▲

Softball is rather similar to baseball but played with a larger ball on a smaller field. It is predominantly played by women at the Olympic level. The game consists of seven innings, with teams alternating between batting and fielding, aiming to score runs by hitting the ball and circling the bases.

▲

Softball's return to the Olympics is seen as vital for the sport's growth, particularly in the United States and Japan where the sport has strong followings. The event has been championed as a promoter of gender equality in sports since it is only for female athletes.

▲

Flag football will make its Olympic debut in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The sport is a non-contact variant of American football, and follows the broader trend of introducing sports that resonate with younger audiences.

▲

Instead of tackling the ball carrier as players would in American football, players of flag football aim to remove a flag attached to the carrier's waist. It is a fast-paced, skill-oriented sport that emphasizes speed, agility, and teamwork.

▲

American football is the only major professional sport in the US that is not an official event at the Olympics. One of the reasons why it has remained this way is because of the sport’s high risk of injury.

▲

Just like flag football, squash will also be making its Olympic debut in 2028. Shockingly, the sport had already been rejected on four occasions in the past, which makes its inclusion all the more exciting.

▲

Squash is a racquet sport played by two players (or four in doubles) on a four-walled court. The players take turns hitting a small rubber ball against the front wall, aiming to make it difficult for the opponent to return. Squash requires intense physical fitness, quick reflexes, and strategic shot placement.

▲

Squash is already a regular fixture at various multi-sport events around the world, including the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and World Games.

▲

Interestingly, break dancing (professionally known as breaking) will not be included in the roster for the 2028 Summer Olympics. Many fans have been shocked and confused at this, especially since breaking was first practiced in the United States in the late 1960s.

▲

Breaking is a dynamic form of street dance that involves intricate body movements, spins, flips, and stylized footwork. Competitors, known as "b-boys" and "b-girls," are judged on their creativity, technique, and performance in head-to-head battles.

▲

The break dancing event debuted at the Paris Olympics this year, but the sport received a lot of negative publicity following the criticized performance of one of the athletes, Rachael Gunn (competitively known as Raygun). The Australian athlete did not receive any points from the judges.

▲

Modern pentathlon has been part of the Olympics since 1912, but the 2028 Games will see a significant change made to the sport. The traditional horse riding discipline will be replaced with obstacle course racing, similar to what you might see on 'American Ninja Warrior.'

▲

Modern pentathlon is a multidisciplinary event that traditionally consists of fencing, swimming, horse riding, shooting, and running. The sport was designed to test the skills of an ideal soldier by combining endurance, precision, and versatility.

▲

The International Olympic Committee has taken massive strides in recent years to inject new energy into the Games and to make it more enticing to younger audiences. The changes to the modern pentathlon event are one of a few examples of this.

▲

Boxing has been an Olympic sport at almost every Summer Olympics since it was introduced in 1904, but the sport is yet to be approved for the 2028 Olympic roster. In 2023, the IOC stopped recognizing the International Boxing Association, which means that they must approve a new governing body for the sport before including it in the roster.

▲

Boxing is a combat sport in which two athletes compete in a ring, throwing punches at each other while avoiding their opponent's blows. The aim is to outscore the opponent or achieve a knockout within the set rounds.

▲

Since its introduction, boxing has only been excluded from one of the Games, which was the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. Interestingly, the reason why it was excluded is because Swedish law had banned the sport at the time.

Sources: (The Washington Post) (HuffPost) (The Olympics) (Britannica)