Report: LA28 Invites Lacrosse to Make Case for Olympic Inclusion
Wed Aug 3 2022 | Matt DaSilva | Fuel
International Olympics LA28
PHOTO BY BORDER BOYS MEDIA
Kiyoshi Sano in disbelief after Japan defeated Great Britain for the men's lacrosse Sixes bronze medal at The World Games in Birmingham, Ala.
The Olympic dream just inched closer to reality.
Lacrosse is one of nine sports that have been invited by Los Angeles 2028 to present their case for inclusion at the Olympics, according to a report by Inside the Games.
World Lacrosse, which developed the Sixes discipline that was on display at The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, is expected to submit a formal proposal to the organizing committee later this month.
Baseball/softball, breaking, cricket, flag football, karate, kickboxing, motorsport and squash are the other sports being considered for addition to the program.
Lacrosse was played in the Olympics in 1904 and 1908 and was a demonstration sport in 1928, 1932 and 1948. The International Olympic Committee granted World Lacrosse full recognition in July 2021, a significant milestone in the international federation’s effort to make lacrosse an Olympic sport once more.
There are 28 sports traditionally in the Olympics, but beginning with the Tokyo Games last summer, the IOC allowed the host to add sports it views as important to its city, region or country. Five sports were added for Tokyo in 2021 and four for Paris in 2024.
World Lacrosse has added seven new members in the last calendar year and 34 in the last decade to raise its global membership to 77 nations on six continents.
Earlier this summer, the international federation inked a historic multi-year global media rights deal with ESPN to carry its championships through 2023. The partnership covers this summer’s World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in Maryland and World Lacrosse Men’s U21 Championship in Ireland as well as next summer’s World Lacrosse Men’s Championship in San Diego.
