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The Summer Olympics are set to return to Los Angeles in 2028 for the first time since 1984 and Flag Football might be coming with them.
In fact, it marks the first time in over 25 years that the US will host either the Winter or Summer Olympics.
The last iteration held on US soil was the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
With that return comes the possibility of an entirely new set of competitions.
In 2021 in Tokyo we saw the introduction of rock climbing.
In 2024, we’ll see break dancing in Paris.
So, what American-specific sport could we see in LA?
Well, the 2028 organizers have officially proposed five new sports. Though one in particular turned fans heads: flag football.
“The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games shared its official proposal for new Olympic sports, including Baseball/Softball, Flag Football, Cricket (Twenty20), Lacrosse (Sixes) and Squash, to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for potential inclusion in the 2028 Olympic sport program,” a statement read.
Those sports would join the 28 other competitions announced in 2022.
Those sports are: Aquatics, Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Canoe, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Football (Soccer), Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Rowing, Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Surfing, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball and Wrestling.
Both baseball and softball were played in Tokyo, with the US losing to Japan in the gold medal game in both. But the sport will not be a part of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Lacrosse was played in 1904 and 1908, but has not featured since as an official event. Cricket had a single gold-medal game in the 1900 Olympics, and Squash, like football, has never appeared at the Olympics.
Football at the Olympics would be a massive step forward for the game globally. But some fans believe it’s unlikely to happen.
I don’t get into geopolitics too often but it says a lot the rest of this cowardly globe wont play us in American tackle football https://t.co/0SyT1opPmU
— Céad Míle Fáilte (@ColeyMick) October 9, 2023
“I’m so sorry to flag football but i cannot take that seriously,” @gymmath2 wrote on Twitter.
But not all thought that way.
“We need NFL players for flag or nobody will watch. You put Justin Herbert and Jaylen Waddle in the Olympics and it’s appointment television,” wrote @SilkyJohnStamos.
So, are you in or out on flag football at the Olympics?