Methods used for Expanding the Scope of Olympic Sports from Ancient Greece through Los Angeles 2028, including the Launching of an Olympic Esports Games

Beginning in 776 BC, athletics in the Ancient Olympics involved 49% of all events and combat sports like boxing and wrestling beginning in 708 BC involved 32%, indicating their popularity. Harder to stage chariot racing (11%) began in 680 BC and equestrian events (4%) began in 648 BC. A few artistic events (4%) including trumpeter competition and herald competition began in 396 BC. Women cleverly won 8 Olympic equestrian and chariot events, by owning the winning horses. The 1896 marathon linked ancient with modern. Women began competing in 1900. From 1896-1936, host nations, with IOC approval, selected locally popular and dominant sports, winning the most medals in 7 of 10 Olympics. After WW2, locally interesting non-medal demonstration sports were contested from 1948-1992, with six becoming continuing core sports: badminton, baseball, handball, judo for women, taekwondo, and tennis. Under Olympic Agenda 2020, Tokyo 2020 included skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, karate, baseball, and softball. Paris 2024 was allowed to include skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing, which then became continuing core sports, and eclectic breakdancing. The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will include baseball, softball, lacrosse, cricket, squash, and flag football. To facilitate popular Esports competition, a separate Olympic Esports Games begins in 2027. Keywords: Ancient Olympics, Modern Olympics, Olympic Agenda 2020, selecting sports, women’s sports, Esports