The inclusion of five new sporting disciplines in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics has sparked excitement in the local Olympic circles.
The five sports added to the Summer Olympics by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are baseball/softball, lacrosse, cricket, flag football, and squash.
This decision not only marks the return of baseball/softball, cricket, and lacrosse to the Olympic stage but also introduces flag football and Squash, who will be making their Olympic debut in the LA 2028 Olympics.
These selections were proposed by the LA28 Organising Committee and were reviewed and supported by the IOC's Olympic Programme Commission (OPC) and Executive Board (EB) on Monday.
National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) secretary general, Mutuku stated: "We're excited to see the Olympic family growing bigger, and we can't wait to push our athletes towards qualifying for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.
"It promises a substantial team, as most youth athletes will have participated in the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics and the senior team will be more extensive. This is great news for our newest members and the school programs."
For Kenya, Mutuku said the decision presents a tremendous opportunity to excel in the world of sports.
"Cricket, with its growing popularity and the introduction of the T20 format, offers Kenya a chance to improve its global ranking, akin to its successes in the 90s and the recent win by the women's team in the African Region Division Two trophy in September," he noted.
The Kenya Lacrosse Federation is set to implement these programs in schools and foster exchange initiatives.
Lenana School, where the National team trains, will contribute to the growth of Lacrosse in the country.
Mutuku said they will begin the process of incorporating these five sports into its Youth camps, starting in the upcoming December holidays.
IOC President, Thomas Bach, stated, "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 LA 2028 Olympics unique."
NOC-K stated that it will begin the process of incorporating these five sports into its Youth camps starting in the upcoming December holidays.
