Motorsport is on the shortlist of events being considered for participation in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
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Aug 16, 2023 @ 5:29pm
Motor sports are enjoying great popularity as interest in motor racing is fueled in part by the recent popularity of Formula 1. Now the sport could see another boost thanks to its possible inclusion as an Olympic event.
Motorsport is on the shortlist of activities to include at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. It is not yet clear which discipline that will be, but one form is the most likely: electric karting.
Motor sports are being considered alongside baseball softball, lacrosse, break dancing, karate, kickboxing, squash, cricket and flag football. According to Reuters, American leaders in the latest sport say an official decision on which events will be added is expected in the coming weeks.
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Although more than one option can be added for the 2028 Olympics, the competition is fierce. Sports such as baseball, karate and especially cricket enjoy a large international following.
If racing is chosen as one of the sports added to the LA Games, it’s likely that the form of motorsport will be electric karting, reports Jalopnik. The discipline was previously unveiled as a demonstration event at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina and the FIA has been pushing for its inclusion ever since.
It’s easy to understand why the motorsport federation opts for electric karting. While the battery performance would appeal to more environmentally conscious spectators, the vehicle type requires less infrastructure than full-size race cars and the sport is consistent with the amateur spirit of the Olympics.
While the inclusion of motorsports in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics would mark a game changer, it is not entirely unprecedented. Cars competed in the 1900 Paris Olympics and more recently sim racing was introduced as a virtual event in conjunction with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Whatever sports are selected as Olympic competitions, their inclusion is only guaranteed for one cycle. However, the decision could help attract more young athletes to the discipline and would likely increase their chances of competing in future Olympics.
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