Sixth new sport set to be added for 2028 Olympics after one event from 2024 Games was removed
A sixth new sport is set to be added for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles after it initially looked like it was being scrapped.
Los Angeles will host the Olympics for the third time in their history and are hopeful of bringing in 15 million visitors to the 50 venues putting on various sports and events.
It's been confirmed that softball and baseball, cricket and lacrosse will all be returning for the Games - with flag football, a variant of American football, and squash being added by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) for the first time.
After an eventful debut and the controversy involving Raygun in Paris, it was confirmed that breaking would not be making a return in LA.
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But similarly, boxing was not in the initial programme in relation to issues over funding, governance and ethics. A deadline was set but some of the persistent problems appear to be resolved, paving the way for the sport to continue on the agenda.
At the last two Olympics, the IOC operated as the governing body as the Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) were suspended in 2019 and stripped of its status in 2023 after reforms were not taken up.
Both bodies were at odds over the gender eligibility of two female boxers competing in the women's competition.
But after being granted provision recognition from the IOC, World Boxing is now in line to become the sport's international governing federation.
Created in April 2023, World Boxing underwent went an assessment from the IOC which ruled that they had continued to make progress in key areas.
And now, outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach has expressed confidence that the new body will get the seal of approval at an upcoming session in Greece.
"After the provisional recognition of World Boxing in February we were in a position to take this decision," he said on Monday, as per the BBC.
"This recommendation has to go to the session, but I am very confident they will approve it so that all the boxers of the world then have certainty they can participate in the Olympic Games in LA."
World Boxing has 84 members, including Great Britain. Only athletes representing national federations who held membership with World Boxing at the start of the 2028 Olympics qualification events will be eligible to participate.
"On behalf of everyone at World Boxing I would like to thank the Executive Board of the IOC for the trust they have placed in our organisation and we hope for a positive outcome when the IOC Session meets this week.
Having been hopeful of getting the green light, President of World Boxing Boris van der Vorst reacted to the news and said: "On behalf of everyone at World Boxing I would like to thank the Executive Board of the IOC for the trust they have placed in our organisation and we hope for a positive outcome when the IOC Session meets this week.
"World Boxing understands that being part of the Olympic Games is a privilege and not a right and I assure the IOC that if boxing is restored to the programme for LA28, that World Boxing is completely committed to being a trustworthy and reliable partner that will adhere to and uphold the values of the Olympic Charter."
Josh Lawless