The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) expresses its excitement and appreciation for the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to approve the inclusion of five new sports in the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad.
This decision, made on Monday, October 16th, 2023, is a significant milestone for the global sports community.
The five sports added to the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics are Baseball/Softball, Lacrosse, Cricket, Flag football, and Squash.
These selections were proposed by the LA28 Organising Committee and have been reviewed and supported by the IOC’s Olympic Programme Commission (OPC) and Executive Board (EB). Each of these sports brings its unique history and appeal to the Olympic Games.
Baseball/Softball: This marks a return for Baseball/Softball to the Olympic stage, having been part of the program at several editions of the Olympic Games, most recently at Tokyo 2020.
Cricket: Cricket, which was on the program for the Olympic Games in Paris in 1900, will make a comeback to the Olympics.
Lacrosse: Lacrosse, a sport that was included in the program at St Louis 1904 and London 1908, will once again be part of the Olympic festivities.
Flag Football and Squash: These two sports will make their Olympic debut at LA28, showcasing their global appeal to the world.
Mr. Thomas Bach, President of the IOC, stated, “The choice of these five new sports is in line with the American sports culture and will showcase iconic American sports to the world while bringing international sports to the United States. These sports will make the Olympic Games LA28 unique.”
For Kenya, this decision presents a tremendous opportunity to excel in the world of sports. Cricket, with its growing popularity and the introduction of the T20 format, offers Kenya a chance to improve its global ranking, akin to its successes in the 90s and the recent win by the women’s team in the African Region Division Two trophy in September.
The Kenya Lacrosse Federation has made significant strides, implementing programs in schools and fostering exchange initiatives. Institutions like Lenana School, where the National team trains, contribute to the growth of Lacrosse in the country.
NOC-K Secretary General, Mr. Francis Mutuku, expressed his enthusiasm, “We’re excited to see the Olympic family growing bigger, and we can’t wait to push our athletes towards qualifying for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
It promises a substantial team, as most youth athletes will have participated in the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics and the senior team will be more extensive. This is great news for our newest members and the school programs.”
NOC-K will begin the process of incorporating these five sports into its Youth camps starting in the upcoming December holidays, ensuring that Kenya is well-prepared for the remarkable sporting journey that lies ahead.
