2028 Olympics: Version of USA's Beloved Sport to Make Debut, IOC Chief Gives Preference to American Events

(Photo : INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach is seen on a digital screen as he speaks during the second day of the 141st session of the IOC in Mumbai on October 16, 2023. Cricket will feature as one of five new sports at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, organisers announced on October 16, 2023.

Preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics are underway. Americans, who will be the event's host, will have plenty to look forward to after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announces new events to be included in the event.

Flag football, a variant of American football, has been approved as one of the five sports to grace the world's biggest sporting event come 2028.

The other four are baseball/softball, cricket (T20), lacrosse (sixes), and squash.

IOC president Thomas Bach said bringing these sports events to the world stage via host city Los Angeles will make the LA28 unique.

"The choice of these five new sports is in line with the American sports culture and will showcase iconic American sports to the world, while bringing international sports to the United States. These sports will make the Olympic Games LA28 unique," said IOC President Thomas Bach.

"Their inclusion will allow the Olympic Movement to engage with new athlete and fan communities in the U.S. and globally."

Baseball and softball have graced the Olympics before, while cricket debuted in Paris in 1900. However, it was shelved for a long time.

Lacrosse, likewise, was part of the Olympics in the early 1900s, specifically the St Louis 1904 and London 1908.

Flag football and squash are the only ones that will debut in Los Angeles.

American-tailored Olympics

American football is the number one sport in the United States, and having its variant flag football can only make it bigger.

What differentiates flag football from its mother sport is that players do not need to tackle opponents. They just need to remove the flags or flag belt, a play called deflagging.