| Factor | Established Olympic Team Sports | New / Returning Olympic Sports |
|---|---|---|
| Football | Established | — |
| Basketball | Established | — |
| Lacrosse | — | Returns LA28 (Sixes) |
| Cricket | — | Joins LA28 (T20) |
| Flag football | — | Debuts LA28 |
| Squash | — | Debuts LA28 |
Choose Established Olympic Team Sports when…
You follow the traditional Olympic team sports with deep history and infrastructure, want the highest level of established international competition.
Choose New / Returning Olympic Sports when…
You're excited by the LA28 additions — lacrosse, cricket, flag football and squash — and the fresh competition and new audiences they bring to the Games.
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FAQ
What new sports are in the 2028 Olympics?
LA 2028 adds cricket (T20), flag football, squash, and brings back lacrosse (in the six-a-side Sixes format) and baseball/softball. These reflect the IOC's strategy of adding globally growing sports and ones with strong appeal in the host nation, the United States.
What are the oldest team sports in the Olympics?
Water polo has been an Olympic sport since 1900 — the oldest team sport on the programme. Football (soccer) has also been in the Olympics since 1900 (men's). Hockey (field hockey) men's has been Olympic since 1908. Rugby union in the sevens format returned for 2016 after a very long absence (the 15-a-side game was Olympic in the early 1900s).
How many players are on Olympic team sport rosters?
Squad sizes vary: football allows 18 (16 field players, 2 goalkeepers); volleyball registers 14 players per team; basketball allows 12; rugby sevens uses 12-player squads; water polo has 13 (7 on court per team); hockey (field) has 16. The Olympics uses smaller squads than World Championship equivalents for logistical and village capacity reasons.