The International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved this Thursday (3), at a meeting held in Beijing (China), the program for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics (United States), with 28 modalities. The list – which can be changed – provides for the continuity of skateboarding, surfing and climbing, sports with “strong appeal to young people”, according to an official statement from the entity. In contrast, boxing, weightlifting and modern pentathlon (which involves shooting, fencing, swimming, equestrian and running), although traditional, were left out.
WE GOT NEWS!! Check out the LA28 Sports Starting Lineup… https://t.co/pRrXZkOB6l #skateboarding #surfing #sportclimbing pic.twitter.com/AbaDYkijVV
— LA28 (@LA28) February 3, 2022
The entities responsible for the absent modalities have until the next IOC meeting, in 2023, to comply with requirements and reverse the situation. In the case of boxing, the International Association (Aiba) is suspended until next year due to financial and arbitration issues. The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) is mainly questioned by the frequency of doping cases. The International Union of Modern Pentathlon (Uipm) has to reduce costs and make the sport attractive to young people. A requirement is the exit from the equestrian of the five disputes.
Another sport in the sights of the IOC, although scheduled for 2028, is football. The note says that the Committee “will continue to monitor the evolution of the international games calendar”. One of the plans of the president of the International Football Federation (Fifa), Gianni Infantino, is to hold the World Cup every two years, making it a competitor of the Olympics, displeasing the IOC.
Sports confirmed in Los Angeles so far are: track and field, badminton, basketball, canoeing, cycling, rock climbing, fencing, football, gymnastics, golf, handball, equestrian, field hockey, judo, wrestling, swimming, rowing, rugby (in sevens modality – seven athletes on each side), skateboarding, surfing, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, archery, shooting, triathlon, sailing and volleyball. According to the IOC, the Games Organizing Committee may also propose the inclusion of new modalities next year.
