Olympics make shock decision to add mixed-gender events for Los Angeles 2028 Games
The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles will debut mixed-gender competitions in a variety of sports, the International Olympic Committee announced on Wednesday.
A total of 11,198 athletes are set to compete in the Games, the organization said, and some will be part of groundbreaking new events.
Mixed team events will be added in artistic gymnastics, track and field, golf, archery, table tennis and coastal rowing.
In track and field - which had already featured a 4x400 mixed relay - a 4x100 mixed relay will be added.
Golf's mixed competition will be entirely new to the Games, while the mixed artistic gymnastics format has yet to be formalized.
'The mixed events are a real true embodiment of gender equality - men and women competing in the same team, on the same field of play for their country,' IOC sports director Kit McConnell said on Wednesday.
Vernon Norwood, Kaylyn Brown, Bryce Deadmon and Shamier Little of the United States, celebrate after winning the silver medal in the 4 x 400 meters relay mixed final in Pari
Team USA gymnastics star Simone Biles could compete in a mixed team event
'We've seen the real success of these [mixed-gender events]. They bring something incredibly special for the athletes involved.'
Notably, the LA Olympics will feature a majority-female field for the first time.
The IOC said that 50.5 percent of the athletes at the 2028 Games will be women.
That change is in part because women's soccer will have 16 teams compared to 12 in the men's division.
The water polo and boxing competitions have also been amended to feature an equal amount of men and women.
Additionally, five sports will be added to the LA Games' program.
Baseball/softball, cricket, lacrosse, squash and flag football will all be part of the Olympics.
It hasn't been confirmed whether or not NFL players will be allowed to compete in flag football, though a promo released last summer featured Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.
