Lacrosse is one of the games that is excluded from the Paris Summer Olympics 2024, along with some other sports like cricket, baseball, etc.
Lacrosse is one of the oldest sports in North America. It is a team sport originally played by the American tribes. Unfortunately, lacrosse is also one of the sports excluded from the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. There are several reasons why lacrosse is not included as one of the sports of the Paris Summer Olympics 2024.
What is the history of Lacrosse?
Lacrosse was originally played in the regions of Native America by the tribes of eastern North America. It was called by different names, such as “Baggataway” by the Algonquian and Tewaarathon by the Iroquois, who called it “Tewaarathon.”. The Cherokee called lacrosse “Anetsa.”.
Lacrosse held great cultural significance back then and was believed to hold spiritual importance. The game can be played by hundreds of players at the same time, covering a vast area of the field. It was mainly played with a wooden stick and a ball.
Later in the 17th century, the French Jesuit missionaries showed interest in the game and named it “Lacrosse.”. The name was kept lacrosse due to the use of sticks, which was Bishop’s resemblance.
A Canadian dentist named Dr. Illiam George Beers systematised the rules of the games, which included a reduction of players, a proper field, and equipment for the sport in the late 19th century. In 1859, lacrosse was announced as the national sport of Canada.
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Was lacrosse ever part of the Olympic Games?
Lacrosse was twice a part of the Olympic Games. In the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, lacrosse made its first appearance in the Olympic Games. Only three teams were anticipated in the tournament, i.e., two teams from Canada and one team from the United States. With the outstanding performance of the players, the Shamrock lacrosse team from Canada, Winnipeg, and Manitoba managed to bring home a gold medal. And the United States team got the silver.
In the 1908 London Summer Olympics, lacrosse made its comeback. But this time, the competition was held between only two teams. Canada and Great Britain were the only two teams to participate in the London Olympics of 1908.
The winning team was Canada, with the gold medal.
Unfortunately, soon after these two Olympic Games, lacrosse was denied the Olympic sports list. Lacrosse appeared in the 1928, 1933, and 1948 Olympic Games, but as only a demonstrative sport, not an official sport.
Why is lacrosse excluded from the list of official sports at the Paris Summer Olympics 2024?
Lacrosse does not have a global reach and popularity like other sports held at the Olympic Games. Despite its growth in popularity over the past few years, lacrosse still lacks global support and ratings. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) mainly focuses on sports with global interest and popularity.
The sports that are held at the Olympic Games require years of decision-making, the right choices with global reach, and the host city’s preferences. Since the Olympics of 1904 and 1908, lacrosse has declined from the medal sport list. But officials have been trying to make lacrosse one of the sports with global appeal.
In addition, the host city is also responsible for the exclusion of sports from the Olympic Games. They mainly prefer to showcase sports concerning their culture and strategic interests.
The sports that are going to take part in the Olympic Games and the host cities are decided beforehand. It takes almost 7 years to plan such big sporting events. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) approves sports with systematized international federations. Even though lacrosse has its significant strides, it still lacks well-organised international federations.
The recent sports that are added to the Paris Summer Olympic 2024, like surfing, breakdancing, skateboarding, etc., are of youth’s demand and interest.
The lacrosse community has been trying its best to make its comeback at the 2028 Summer Olympics by fulfilling all the requirements of the IOC (International Olympic Committee).
