Lacrosse And Flag Football Are Among The 5 New Proposed 2028 Olympic Sports
Lacrosse is among a handful of sports that have been lobbying to get Olympic attention. Now, they are getting it. Yesterday, The Guardian reported that lacrosse, cricket, squash, flag football, baseball and softball are among the new proposed sports in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, California.
The Olympic committee is considering this to be an addition of five sports (as opposed to six). Baseball and softball are in the same bucket. These sports are in a unique situation, basically working off a “by-games” experience. Meaning, baseball and softball were in the 2020 Olympic games. However, they were not selected for Paris 2024.
“They’re relevant, innovative and community-based, played in backyards, schoolyards, community centers, stadiums and parks across the US and the globe,” Casey Wasserman, chairperson of the LA28 organizing committee said yesterday, in a quote shared by The Guardian.
USA Today reported, that fans should expect this good news to continue. “The International Olympic Committee is expected to consider, and almost certainly approve, the proposed new sports at its session in Mumbai, India over the next week,” they said.
NFL x PLL
The NFL has been a strong advocate for adding flag football over the years. The NFL has been running a very successful and popular flag program for over 20 years. The Premier Lacrosse League has also been pushing for lacrosse to be among the new sports in the 2028 Olympics. This has been led by arguably the sport’s most recognizable player in history, (and PLL Co-Founder) Paul Rabil.
In fact, yesterday, Rabil was vocal about this Olympic advancement on his Instagram, relaying how this would be the first time lacrosse is played in the Olympics since 1908. Rabil called it “a transformative movement for the game.”
Adding cricket to the mix also has a business value benefit. USA Today explained how cricket is among the most popular sports in India. According to USA Today, he Olympic committee has longed to gain popularity in that region of the world.
Adding these new sports to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles “will bring new athletes to the Games, engage diverse fanbases and expand the Games’ presence in digital spaces, further amplifying LA28’s mission to deliver an unparalleled experience,” Casey Wasserman said.