- The countdown to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics has officially begun
- Breaking will not be coming back after debuting at this year’s games in Paris
- Cricket and lacrosse return to the Olympics for the first time in over 100 years
The 2024 Olympic Games may have only just finished three days ago, but all that means is that the countdown to the 2028 games, in Los Angeles, has begun. And in four years time, the games are set to expand once more.
This year’s event saw the debuts of breaking and Formula Kite, yet, despite Rachel Gunn of Australia’s best (or worst?) efforts, breaking will not be returning in southern California in four years time. Cruelly robbing us of the opportunity to see the greatest moment in Simpsons history recreated on the grandest stage of all.
In LA, however, cricket and lacrosse return to the games for the first time since 1900 and 1908, respectively, while Flag Football, fresh from it’s massive upturn in Taylor Swift inspired popularity in the UK, makes it’s Olympic debut. Squash will also be played at the games for the first time in 2028.
The expanded edition in LA will also bring a return for baseball and softball, having been left out of the Paris games despite their appearance in Tokyo 2021. All new additions will be considered ‘optional sports’, meaning they could then be dropped for Brisbane 2032. Sport climbing, skateboarding and surfing have all been upgraded to core sports, however, meaning they will be featured in multiple games to come.
Surprisingly, there are discussions around boxing’s future at the games, due to organisational issues, while weightlifting, another historic Olympic mainstay, is also reportedly facing an uncertain future, according to the Evening Standard.
Anyway, if you’ll excuse me, I’m just off to start a petition to get breaking brought back for LA 2028: Electric Boogaloo.
(h/t Evening Standard)
