Cricket among seven sports waiting for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics call up

Cricket, squash and motorsports are still waiting to find out if they will be added to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The process to add sports that organizers in Los Angeles want at the 2028 Games was unexpectedly delayed Wednesday by the International Olympic Committee.

The IOC cited “ongoing discussions” with L.A. officials as the issue — a clear rift between the two sides — despite the timetable being known for years and only two days before a key meeting to let nine candidate sports know which is set to get Olympic status.

As a result, the IOC-appointed panel studying sports program changes “has not yet had the opportunity to hold its meeting to prepare its final recommendation.”

On Friday, the Olympic body's executive board was scheduled to recommend which of the nine sports would join the core events. The candidates are cricket, baseball-softball, flag football, lacrosse, breaking, karate, kickboxing, squash and motorsports.

The IOC board also was scheduled to give clarity on the uncertain Olympic futures for boxing, modern pentathlon and weightlifting beyond their appearances at the 2024 Paris Games. Although the final decision rests with the IOC members, who will meet from Oct. 15-17 in Mumbai, India, that would typically be a formality to rubber stamp the board’s position.

The IOC gave no new timetable Wednesday for decisions, saying that “the sports program for the Olympic Games LA28 will be discussed during a later IOC (board) meeting, to take place at a date to be decided.”