IOC to decide on new sports for LA28 next week

A decision on which new sports will be added to the 2028 L.A. Games is "to be revealed next week" when the IOC holds an Executive Board meeting on Sept. 8. The IOC "will take a decision on the LA28 programme" at the meeting, and then the IOC Session "would need to ratify that decision when it meets Oct. 15-17 in Mumbai." The nine sports seeking inclusion for LA28 are flag football, karate, kickboxing, baseball-softball, lacrosse, breakdancing, squash, motorsport and cricket. While their inclusion "would only be assured for one edition of the Games," the sports are "banking on the boost provided by their inclusion to spur growth and remain an attractive Olympic product going into the next four-year cycle" (REUTERS, 8/31).