Olympic Movement
07.09.2023
IOC postpones decision on sports programme for Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that a decision on the sports programme for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will be made at a later date.
An IOC Executive Board meeting was scheduled for Friday (September 8) when one of the items on the agenda was a report by the IOC Olympic Programme Commission on the new sports in Los Angeles.
However, it has been moved due to "ongoing discussions" between the IOC and the Organising Committee while it was also announced that an online press conference which was supposed to take place on the same day has been postponed.
"Due to ongoing discussions between the IOC and the Organising Committee, the Olympic Programme Commission has not yet had the opportunity to hold its meeting to prepare its final recommendation for the IOC EB," a statement from the IOC read.
The sudden postponement on the decision from the IOC suggests disagreements with the Organising Committee.
Cricket is among the nine sports in the running for Los Angeles 2028 along with flag football, baseball/softball, lacrosse, breaking, karate, kickboxing, squash and motorsport. An update on modern pentathlon and weightlifting is also expected from the IOC Board with their futures uncertain after Paris 2024.
A decision on these sports, that are also not on the programme for Los Angeles 2028, is expected when the members meet for the141st IOC Session in Mumbai, scheduled from October 15 to 17.
IOC director general Christophe De Kepper has "guaranteed" that boxing will feature at Los Angeles 2028.
An IOC Executive Board meeting was scheduled for Friday (September 8) when one of the items on the agenda was a report by the IOC Olympic Programme Commission on the new sports in Los Angeles.
However, it has been moved due to "ongoing discussions" between the IOC and the Organising Committee while it was also announced that an online press conference which was supposed to take place on the same day has been postponed.
"Due to ongoing discussions between the IOC and the Organising Committee, the Olympic Programme Commission has not yet had the opportunity to hold its meeting to prepare its final recommendation for the IOC EB," a statement from the IOC read.
The sudden postponement on the decision from the IOC suggests disagreements with the Organising Committee.
Cricket is among the nine sports in the running for Los Angeles 2028 along with flag football, baseball/softball, lacrosse, breaking, karate, kickboxing, squash and motorsport. An update on modern pentathlon and weightlifting is also expected from the IOC Board with their futures uncertain after Paris 2024.
A decision on these sports, that are also not on the programme for Los Angeles 2028, is expected when the members meet for the141st IOC Session in Mumbai, scheduled from October 15 to 17.
IOC director general Christophe De Kepper has "guaranteed" that boxing will feature at Los Angeles 2028.
Cricket being played during the preshow prior to the Opening Ceremony of London 2012 ©Getty Images
The Los Angeles 2028 Organising Committee can decide on the programme for the Games in five years time, although it must be ratified by the IOC.
IOC President Thomas Bach recently spoke of his admiration for cricket, especially for the shorter T20 format, hinting that he would like for the sport to included for Los Angeles 2028.
"With the traditional format, we could not have accommodated cricket in the Olympic programme," he was quoted as saying by CNBC-TV18.
"But with a T20 format, this would be very possible."
Cricket's previous and only appearance at the Olympics was at the Games in 1900, when it was contested by just two teams.
Of the sports on the shortlist, softball was included in the 1996 and 2008 editions, before returning at Tokyo 2020 alongside baseball. Baseball also featured as an official sport at the Olympics between 1992 and 2008.
Baseball could be a huge hit if included, considering the massive fan base and popularity of the sport in the United States ©Getty Images
It could be a huge hit if included, considering the massive fan base and popularity of the sport in the United States.
The World Baseball Softball Federation (WBSC) has said that it remains "very optimistic about baseball and softball's potential inclusion on the LA28 sports programme".
"The WBSC is extremely pleased baseball/softball is on the list of additional sports being considered for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028," WBSC told insidethegames.
"Considering the very positive discussions with the IOC, LA28 and other major stakeholders, we remain very optimistic about baseball and softball's potential inclusion on the LA28 sports programme.
"We have no doubt that our sport would enhance the Olympic Games experience.
"All the major professional baseball leagues around the world, including the CPBL [Chinese Professional Baseball League], KBO [Korean Baseball Organisation], MLB [Major League baseball], NPB [Nippon Professional Baseball], are fully supportive, as we continue to have productive discussions on the various requirements of baseball being part of the Games.
"It is also important to note the global power of softball.
"We feel that the potential for softball to connect LA28 to, and inspire, millions of women and girls in the US and beyond is unmatched."
Flag football is hoping to seal a spot at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games ©IFAF
Lacrosse was an official event at the 1904 and 1908 Olympics, while breaking is set to debut at Paris 2024.
Karate made its debut at Tokyo 2020, but was left out of the Games programme in Paris.
Kickboxing and squash has never taken place at the Summer Olympics. Flag football is another sport yet to make an Olympics appearance and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has previously claimed that they were "excited by the prospect of being included in Los Angeles 2028".
After today's announcement, the International Federation told insidethegames that it is "fully respectful and understanding of the ongoing process" when asked about the postponement, before adding it will not be making "any further public comment until it concludes".
While motorsport featured in 1900, there is no clarity over its events that were official and those that were not.
Photo: Getty Images
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