MUMBAI, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Cricket and baseball/softball will return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, after the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session approved the proposal here on Monday.

Flag football, lacrosse and squash will also feature at Los Angeles 2028 as additional sports.

The five sports were voted in as a single package, with two out of around 90 IOC members at the session voting against the proposal.

"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 IOC President Thomas Bach. "Their inclusion will allow the Olympic Movement to engage with new athlete and fan communities in the US and globally."

These additional sports were proposed by the LA28 Organizing Committee, for the 2028 edition only, and were reviewed by the IOC's Olympic Program Commission before being put forward to the IOC executive board.

"I have long believed that we have an incredible opportunity in Los Angeles to create the most compelling Games, not just for us, but for the world. Our Olympic sport program, in its entirety, reflects this belief," said LA28 Chairperson Casey Wasserman.

"We are excited to embark on game-changing collaborations with major professional leagues that will unlock massive opportunities to amplify the Olympic and Paralympic story and captivate new audiences."

For baseball/softball, cricket and lacrosse, it would be a return to the Olympic Games, while flag football and squash would be making their Olympic debuts in Los Angeles.

Baseball and softball have been part of the program at several editions of the Olympic Games, most recently at Tokyo 2020.

LA28 will mark the first time for cricket to feature at an Olympic Games since Paris 1900, while it will be lacrosse's third appearance at the Olympic Games, after St. Louis 1904 and London 1908.

In a separate vote, IOC members confirmed that weightlifting and modern pentathlon will retain their Olympic places, after the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has taken actions to solve doping issues, while modern pentathlon has replaced the horse jumping element with obstacle course racing.

The inclusion of boxing on the LA28 sports program is put on hold, as the IOC has not recognized another governing body for Olympic boxing following the IOC's decision to withdraw recognition of the International Boxing Association (IBA). ■

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