NOC-K welcomes IOC's decision to include five new sports in 2028 Olympics, preparations to begin early

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya on Monday 16 October welcomed the International Olympic Committee’s 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.

The five sports added include; 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.

"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,” NOC-K Secretary General, Mr. Francis Mutuku said. “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.”

New sports at the Olympics: cricket, baseball, squash, lacrosse and flag-football?!

Baseball will be making its return to the Games for the second consecutive time having taken part most recently in the Tokyo 2020 Games, with cricket featuring for the first time since 1900.

“For Kenya, this decision presents a tremendous opportunity to excel in the world of sports,” Mutuku added. “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.”

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As for lacrosse, the sport twice included in the St Louis 1904 and London 1908 games will once again be part of the festivities, with flag football and squash making their debuts.

“The Kenya Lacrosse Federation has made significant strides, implementing programs in schools and fostering exchange initiatives,” the Secretary General added. “Institutions like Lenana School, where the National team trains, contribute to the growth of Lacrosse in the country.”

NOC-K is expected to 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.