Five sports – cricket, squash, baseball/softball, lacrosse and flag football – will either be making their Olympic debut or returning to the programme at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

The proposal was approved at the International Olympic Committee Session in Mumbai on Monday, with only two delegates voting against the new events.

Here, the PA news agency looks at all of the confirmed additions and picks out a few current British standouts in each.

Cricket

Cricket returns to the Games for the first time in 128 years in the form of six-team men’s and women’s T20 tournaments. It last featured as a men’s-only competition for the Paris Olympic Games in 1900, which means Great Britain’s men will somewhat be going into the competition as defending champions, while the sport’s inclusion is also hailed as a brilliant showcase for the exponentially-growing women’s game.

Leading lights: Sophie Ecclestone/Sam Curran

Squash

Squash, one of the sports debuting at LA 2028, has been overlooked by the IOC at the past three Games, and the squash community reacted with incredulity at being ignored in favour of breakdancing for Paris 2024. Monday’s announcement will be welcome news for Great Britain, with three English players currently within the men’s and women’s world top-10 rankings, boasting world and Commonwealth titles between them.

Leading Lights: Mohamed ElShorbagy/Georgina Kennedy

Baseball/Softball

Great Britain’s baseball and fastpitch softball teams have never been in a better position to qualify for an Olympic Games. Not only did the men’s baseball team qualify for and play in a maiden World Baseball Classic – a bit like the sport’s World Cup this year – they also won a game and did enough to qualify for the next edition, following that up with a third-ever European silver medal in September.

GB’s softball team were one win away from making the Tokyo 2020 Olympics – where the sports last featured – and are currently ranked 12th in the latest WBSC World Rankings. They beat a tough challenger in world number three Chinese Taipei earlier this year and, like their baseball counterparts, hold the European silver medal with promising talent in the pipeline.

Leading Lights: Harry Ford/Georgina Corrick

Lacrosse

Like cricket, lacrosse is preparing for its return to the Olympics for the first time in over a century, having last been included on the programme at St Louis 1904 and London 1908. Sixes, the format premiering in Los Angeles, has been described by World Lacrosse as a “fast-paced and compact” version of the game sometimes likened to The Hundred in cricket. Great Britain narrowly missed the podium at the 2022 World Games, placing fourth in both the men’s and women’s competitions, but could certainly be contenders in LA.

Leading lights: Tom Bracegirdle/Claire Faram

Flag Football

Flag football, a variant of American football, will also make its Olympic debut in just under five years’ time. Unlike the NFL, flag is a pacey non-contact sport where tackles are made by pulling flags off players’ hips. Great Britain’s women are ranked 20th in the world and are the reigning European champions, while the NFL this year launched its first girls’ flag league as part of ambitions to grow the game in the UK.

Leading lights: Brittany Botterill/Charlie Williams

Cricket, squash, baseball/softball, lacrosse and flag football will all be included in the Olympic programme at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

The proposal was approved at the IOC Session in Mumbai on Monday, with only two delegates voting against the new events.

Cricket returns to the Games for the first time in 128 years in the form of six-team men’s and women’s T20 tournaments, lacrosse for the first time as a medal sport since 1908 while baseball has featured at the Olympics several times.

Flag football, a non-contact format of American football, and squash are included for the first time.

The Jamaica American Football Association (JAAFA), the island’s governing body responsible for presenting all forms of American Football in Jamaica since 2009 says the development of the sport may be at a standstill.

This, as the organization grapples to fill a JM$800,000 shortfall in time for Jamaica’s female national Flag Football team to participate for the second time in the International Women’s Flag Football Association (IWFFA) tournament in Keywest, Florida from January 24th through 31st .

According to JAAFA’s director of football, Roger Salmon, “Since placing third at our first IWFFA appearance in January last year, all eyes are on Jamaica for what appears to be a source for players with tremendous potential. When local players compete internationally, it opens the opportunity for scouts to come to the island to draft players and offer scholarships - because the game is played at the high school and global levels.”

In 2022, JAAFA received assistance from Courts Jamaica Limited and Caribbean Assurance Brokers; and in 2023, support from repeat sponsors Emkay Sports and Mushe Holdings have helped JAAFA with a portion of the JM$1.5 million budget. However, more support is needed to help JAAFA cover airfare and other expenses for a delegation of 10 players and two directors to represent Jamaica at the upcoming IWFFA tournament.

Salmon underscored that the girls’ appearance this time around will help Jamaica to secure a global ranking for Flag Football. “It will put us on the map as a country that is participating in yet another sporting event. We have done ice hockey andnumerous others ... you name it, Jamaica has done it. So, American Football is another one of that magnitude that we are trying to develop on the island.”

The prospects for sports tourism through Flag Football are also great as JAAFA has already been approached to host international tournaments on the island. However, the organization is forced to decline until it is afforded a proper pitch for training and hosting games.

JAAFA remains in preparation mode to enter male and female teams for the Olympics in 2028. Kevaun Hinds, JAAFA’s director of communications highlighted that, “Our male teams have been training for many years now. We have received invitations for them to participate in tournaments but financial constraints have denied them the opportunity. However, we continue to harness and develop their skills.”

The Jamaica American Football Association is currently based in East Kingston and seeks to engage children, youth and adults in the foundational and professional aspects of American Football in Jamaica. The association is also committed to nation building through the development of sports, mentorship and creating local and international opportunities for young people.