Flag football and lacrosse: IOC introduces 5 new sports in the Olympic program

The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has included flag football, cricket, lacrosse, squash, and baseball in the program of the 2028 Summer Olympics. The Games will take place from July 14 to August 30 in Los Angeles.

According to IOC head Thomas Bach, following a meeting of the organization's executive committee in Mumbai, these five sports are fully in line with American sports culture and will showcase "iconic American sports" to the world.

"Their inclusion will allow the Olympic movement to engage with new communities of athletes and fans in the United States and around the world. At the same time, international sports will come to the United States," Bach added.

Lacrosse is a contact sports game between two teams using a small rubber ball and a long-handled tool called a stick. The game was invented by American Indians, who used it to train warriors and resolve conflicts between tribes peacefully.

Flag football is a non-contact version of American football. The main difference is that hard contact is prohibited, and athletes play without protective equipment. Instead of helmets and skeletons, two flags are attached to the player's belt. To stop a player with the ball instead of a tackle (hard contact), as in American football, it is enough to pull off the flag.

As OBOZ.UA reported earlier, the program of the 2024 Summer Olympics to be held in Paris also includes five new sports. They were added to increase the interest of young people in the Olympic Games.

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