The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are nearing their conclusion, and discussions are already underway regarding the future of the next summer games in Los Angeles in 2028. When the torchbearers at the closing ceremony in Paris pass the baton to Los Angeles, many things will be different. New sports will debut, and some classic disciplines will return after more than 100 years.
Los Angeles has chosen to include sports such as flag football, squash, and obstacle racing in its program. Flag football, a variation of American football, is seen as an ideal addition given the sport’s growing global popularity. According to the organizers, it represents “the future of American football’s international growth.”
Squash is making a comeback as one of the racket sports in the Olympics, and it will be interesting to see if other sports, such as padel or pickleball, may follow suit in the future. Obstacle racing will replace equestrian events in the modern pentathlon, a discipline that has been part of the Olympics since 1912 but has been at risk of being phased out for several years.
Two sports, lacrosse and cricket, which have not been played at the Olympics in over 100 years, will return in more accessible formats. Lacrosse will be played in a six-on-six version, while cricket will take place in a T20 format, allowing for faster matches that do not require up to five days of play. This initiative also aims to attract viewers from cricket-loving countries such as India and Pakistan.
Baseball and softball are taking an unusual path in Olympic history; after being excluded from the program since 2008, they will return in Los Angeles, with women’s softball being played at Devon Park, known for hosting the Women’s College World Series.
The upcoming Olympics in Los Angeles will also be unique as it will open two weeks earlier than in Paris, with the opening ceremony set for July 14. Organizers plan to utilize both SoFi Stadium and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as hosts for various events, signifying a change in the traditional scheduling of modern summer Olympics.
Los Angeles’ distinctive cultural heritage and creative landscape will define these games, and organizers have downplayed the possibility of attempting to replicate Paris. “LA will be authentic,” said Casey Wasserman, chair of LA 2028. The Olympics in 2028 will have its own identity, focusing on technology and new frontiers, creating a vision for the future of the event.
As we look forward to the 2028 Olympics, it is clear that the organizers in Los Angeles have grand plans for a spectacular event that blends old traditions with new concepts and ideas. With anticipation, we await what they have in store for both athletes and fans.