Bye Paris, next stop LA! How new sports crack the Games

As the Paris Games wrap up and the world looks ahead to LA in 2028 and Brisbane 2032, Darcy McCartin explores one of the great Olympic mysteries; how they choose the sports that are allowed to go for gold.

Breaking and 3x3 basketball made the cut, but no love for netball? Why do certain sports find their way to Olympic level, and others get left in the dust? Who decides the most suitable sports, and what does the process include?

These are questions often asked by sports lovers around the globe.

Adding a sport or event to the Olympics involves a multi-step process managed by the International Olympic Committee. 

Establishment 

The first step requires the sport to be recognised as such by the IOC. Once seen as a sport, it gains International Sports Federation status.

Eligibility 

Once given IF status, ‘Only sports which comply with the Olympic Charter, the World Anti-Doping Code and the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competition are eligible to be in the programme.’ (IOC), are considered for the Olympics. With both IF and code compliance completed, the sport or event becomes eligible to apply for the Olympic Games. 

Application

The application for a sport to go through the IOC’s selection process, was only recently established. In 2014, the IOC implemented the Olympic Agenda 2020. The development from this agenda included OCOGs (Organizing Committees for the Olympic Games) which have the ability to propose new sports for their edition of the games, with Tokyo 2020 the first to adopt this notion. The OCOG proposing new sports and events allows for innovation with credibility, sustainability, and engagement for each new Games.

Selection

The OCOG-proposed sports are then evaluated by the IOC across five categories, and 35 different criteria.

The onus is on Olympic Proposal (competition format, athletes/official numbers, venue), Value added to the Olympic Movement (legacy, youth interest), Institutional Matters (WADA compliance, athlete health/safety, gender equality), Popularity (coverage, attendance) and Business Model (costs, revenue). A review is then completed by the IOC Executive board, to determine if the applied sport or event meets these guidelines.

This process takes four to six years to complete, with Tokyo 2020 the first to successfully complete the process, as baseball/softball, karate, skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing were added as Olympic sports.

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Now knowing the process of how Olympic sports and events are added, what's been new at the Paris 2024 Olympics?

There is one new sport: Breaking, which has drawn a flood of viral attention thanks to the meme-friendly exploits of Australian competitor Rachel "Raygun" Gunn.

Breaking, also known as breakdancing, is a dynamic street dance style that involves athletic moves, spins, footwork, and freezes, performed to music, with athletes competing head-to-head. Two new events have also been added, Kayak Cross (Kayaking event), and Kiteboarding (Sailing event).

Currently, the Olympic committee has a focus on youth engagement, with many of the sports being added, both including younger athletes, and appealing to a younger audience. The inclusion of sports such as skateboarding, surfing, and breaking, aims to attract younger audiences. These sports are popular among youth and align with contemporary trends. Whilst the IOC must recognise the history of the Olympic Games, they also must continue to grow the event and appeal to this new target audience and to modernise the program. 

Popularity of the sporting code in the hosting nation is also a key component in bidding for their addition.

The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics have gone all out in their bid to add some of the world’s most popular sports to the games. Baseball/softball make a return since Tokyo 2020, after not featuring in Paris 2024, whilst Cricket and Lacrosse make their long awaited Olympic come backs, last seen in Paris 1900, and London 1908 respectively. Squash and Flag Football will make their debuts in LA.

The Olympic Games and its associated corporations continue to change and develop.

Before the recently established OCOG, the inclusion of sports in the Olympics was less structured and transparent. IOC President Thomas Bach states that "The Organising Committee for the Olympic Games is entrusted with the enormous responsibility of bringing the Games to life, ensuring that the values of Olympism are reflected in every aspect of the event."

This evolution creates a more balanced and fair approach to managing the Olympic program. The core values of the Olympic games will stand, but the continuation to grow the games based on global sporting trends and values has been a clear focus for the IOC.