Olympic groups fear added sports will mean cuts at 2028 Games

Olympic sports organizations are expressing concern over potential cuts in their revenue shares and medal events at the 2028 Los Angeles Games due to the addition of new sports, such as cricket, to the program. The International Olympic Committee recently approved cricket, baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash for the 2028 Games, leading to apprehension among current Summer Games sports bodies.

ASOIF, the umbrella group representing current Summer Games sports, has announced its intention to engage in urgent discussions with the IOC leadership regarding the decision to increase the number of sports to a record 36. This decision has raised several questions and concerns among ASOIF members, as they collectively shared $540 million of IOC-allocated money at the past two Olympics.

The potential impact of the addition of these new sports on the revenue share and athlete quotas is of paramount importance to Olympic sports organizations. This development is set to exceed the IOC’s preferred limit of 10,500 athletes at a Summer Games and may necessitate reductions in quotas of athletes or even medal events for core Olympic sports. The IOC has set a target of early 2025 to confirm final quotas, adding to the complexity of the situation.

Key issues for Olympic sports, including revenue-sharing, athlete quotas, Olympic qualification systems, and games optimization, were highlighted by ASOIF president, Francesco Ricci Bitti. These issues have significant implications for international federation operations and the entire Olympic Movement, emphasizing the need for urgent discussions with the IOC leadership.

ASOIF also cautioned its members about the potential rival to the Olympics, as Russia plans to host a World Friendship Games shortly after the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Russian multisport event, set to take place in September, has raised concerns within the sports world, given the current geopolitical climate.