Surfing, skateboarding, and sport climbing will feature at the 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles, after their inclusion was approved today (February 3) by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The inclusion of these sports brings the LA28 initial sports program to 28 disciplines, which also comprise: aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, rowing, rugby, sailing, shooting, soccer, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, triathlon, volleyball, and wrestling.

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Surfing, skateboarding, and sport climbing all made their Olympic debut at last year’s delayed games in Tokyo and are already a part of the program for the 2024 edition in Paris.

LA28 is able to propose additional sports in 2023, ahead of the program’s finalization at the end of that year.

It is understood that modern pentathlon, weightlifting, and boxing must meet certain criteria if they are to be re-included.

Boxing, in particular, has been subject to corruption, after it was found that boxing judges and referees, in collaboration with its governing body the International Boxing Association (IBA), took bribes and manipulated results at the 2016 games in Rio.

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The IBA has since created an independent Boxing Integrity Unit.

The LA28 Paralympic sports program will be finalized following the Olympic program.

LA28 will be the third time the US city has hosted the games, having previously staged the 1984 and 1932 editions.

Casey Wasserman, chairperson for LA28, said: “The LA28 Games have always been about bringing more freshness, youthful energy, and creativity into the Olympic and Paralympic movement.

“Los Angeles is a place unlike any other and it will be incredible to host surfing, skateboarding, and climbing as iconic West Coast sports alongside Olympic fan favorites.”