At the next two Summer Olympics in Paris and Los Angeles, many competitors will get to add a completely new flair to the events, with several new sports joining the fray.
It began with the 2020 Olympic Games, when each host city can have up to six sports as a one-time addition to their Olympic Games, alongside the usual 28 sports. In 2024, Paris will host four new ones, and in 2028, Los Angeles will host five new sports. Here is a look at the sports selected to make their Olympic debut in the coming games as one-time additions.
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Breaking
Making its Olympic debut next summer in Paris, breaking, or more commonly known as break-dancing, is “characterised by a combination of athletic moves including spins, flips and other complex body movement,” according to the International Olympic Committee.
Breaking originates from hip-hop culture in the Bronx in New York during the 1970s but will be making its Olympic premiere in France, where athletes will compete at Place de la Concorde. The events will be judged on physical, artistic, and interpretive qualities. The female event will be held on Aug. 9, 2024, while the male event will be held on Aug. 10, 2024.
The sport is not slated to return for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Flag Football
Flag football, a variant of American football, will make its Olympic debut in 2028 when the Summer Olympics return to the United States for the first time since 1996. With gridiron football being one of the most popular sports in the U.S., the inclusion of a variation of the sport was a major push by many in the sport.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has pushed for international expansion of the league, even floating an international franchise as the NFL hosts more regular season games outside of the U.S. Upon news of the approval for flag football to be included in the 2028 Olympics, Goodell said the NFL is working to “strengthen flag football’s place in the Olympic movement long term.”
“Congratulations to the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) on this landmark achievement for flag football and the global community that loves and plays our game. It’s a tremendous honor for any athlete to represent their country at the Olympics. We have no doubt that this decision will inspire millions of young people around the world to play this game in the years ahead,” Goodell said. “The NFL is committed to working together to strengthen flag football’s place in the Olympic movement long term, and we look forward to continuing this exciting journey with IFAF, the LA28 Organizing Committee, the International Olympic Committee and USA Football.”
Several NFL players have expressed interest in competing in the Los Angeles Olympics in July 2028.
Squash
Another sport making its Olympic debut in 2028 is squash, characterized as a “racket sport usually played by two people on a rectangular court enclosed by four walls,” according to the IOC.
The rules of the sport dictate that the two must rally the ball by striking it against the wall and only allowing it to bounce on the ground once between hits. The winner of the rally gets a point and gets to serve to start the next rally. The first person to get to 11 points by a 2-point margin wins the game, with three victorious games being enough to win the match.
“On behalf of the entire global Squash community, I would like to express my immense delight at Squash’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Squash is an amazingly dynamic, diverse and competitive sport that is perfectly suited for the Olympic Games,” Zena Wooldridge, World Squash Federation president, said in a statement after the sport was added to the 2028 Olympic program.
“Everyone involved in our sport is thrilled to be LA bound and we look forward to being part of an unparalleled Olympic Games experience,” Wooldridge added. “Our most sincere thanks go out to the LA28 OCOG and the IOC for their careful consideration, and to all who have helped Squash achieve Olympic recognition.”
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In addition to these new sports, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing will be included in the 2024 Olympics as second-time additions after making their debut during the 2020 Olympic Games in 2021. Those four sports are included as part of the permanent sports for the 2028 Olympics.
During the Olympics in Los Angeles, baseball/softball, lacrosse, and cricket will be joining the two new sports. Baseball and softball were previously part of the permanent Olympic program from 1992-2008 and returned as rare additions at the 2020 Olympics. Cricket was included as part of the 1900 Olympics in Paris, while lacrosse was a sport in the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis and the 1908 Olympics in London.
