Squash, Baseball, Softball, Flag Football, and Lacrosse are all new Olympic sports, the next Olympics will be hosted in Paris, France from Friday, July 26, 2024 to Sunday, Aug 11, 2024. Here are the new sports and how to play:
Squash is a racquet sport played by two or four players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball.
Baseball is a ball and bat sport where you try to hit the ball with the bat as far as you can. If it goes over the wall it's called a home run.
Softball is very similar to baseball but there is a different pitching motion and a bigger ball.
Flag football is where you try to get to a touchdown by passing or running and on defense you try to pull the opponent's “flag” to get them down.
Lacrosse is a sport like soccer and hockey mixed together, where you try to pick up the ball and throw it in the goal with a netted stick.
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the center of which is a 22-yard field.
“The hope of an Olympic dream just became an active pursuit for countless athletes around the world. This remarkable journey over the next five years will undoubtedly change lives, inspiring athletes with the opportunity to represent their sport and country on the world’s biggest stage,” said Janet Evans, LA28 Chief Athlete Officer. “Participating in the Games is an experience unlike any other, and any athlete who pursues it will become an invaluable thread within the shared story of the LA28 Games.”
“The choice of these five new sports is in line with the American sports culture and will showcase iconic American sports to the world, while bringing international sports to the United States. These sports will make the Olympic Games LA28 unique,” said International Olympic Community President Thomas Bach. “Their inclusion will allow the Olympic Movement to engage with new athlete and fan communities in the US and globally.”
I think this will be super fun to watch and hopefully you do too.