In Lausanne, Switzerland, IOC President Kirsty Coventry assured sports leaders that sports and medal events excluded from the 2032 Brisbane Olympics could potentially make a comeback in future Summer Games. Coventry’s message at the annual meeting of Summer Games sports bodies followed her earlier warning about the need for more efficient Olympic hosting arrangements.
The International Olympic Committee is working to finalize the list of sports for the Brisbane program in the coming months. The number of sports is expected to be fewer than the 36 featured at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Coventry emphasized that there is a possibility for the omitted sports to be reintroduced in the future.
It is anticipated that Brisbane may have fewer than the 353 medal events held in Los Angeles. Coventry acknowledged that not everyone may be pleased with the changes but emphasized that the objective is not to eliminate any sport.
During discussions with ASOIF members, Coventry emphasized the importance of managing costs for hosts by reducing the number of venues required. Streamlining the program for Brisbane and subsequent Olympics is a key focus, with a meeting of the full IOC membership scheduled for June 24 in Lausanne to establish a process for evaluating sports and events.
Certain sports, such as modern pentathlon, face potential risks of losing their Olympic status, while newer additions to the Los Angeles program like flag football, lacrosse, and squash will need to compete for inclusion in Brisbane before their full debut in 2028.
Coventry also paused the 2036 Olympics hosting selection process last year, with Qatar emerging as a strong contender. The prospective hosting in the Middle East region has attracted attention amid regional tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.