Lacrosse Australia welcomes momentous new era as lacrosse returns to Olympics for first time in 80 years
The Australian lacrosse community has joined lacrosse fans around the world in celebrating the return of lacrosse to the Olympic Games, for the first time in 80 years, with the International Olympic Committee approving the inclusion of lacrosse in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
With lacrosse now played in 90 countries around the world, LA28 will mark the third Olympic appearance for lacrosse as an official sport, having previously played in 1904 (St. Louis) and 1908 (London). Lacrosse was later featured as a demonstration sport in three Olympics: Amsterdam 1928, Los Angeles 1932 and London 1948.
In LA28, men’s and women’s lacrosse will be competed in the Lacrosse Sixes format, an incredibly fast-paced, compact version of the sport at the intersection of field and box lacrosse. It offers an inclusionary opportunity to all lacrosse athletes, an easy entry point for new players, and is characterized by an accelerated, open style of play with quick transitions and non-stop, high-scoring action.
Lacrosse was originated by North America’s Indigenous peoples in the 12th century and remains a significant part of Native American culture - highlighted by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s participation in World Lacrosse events - giving lacrosse a rich heritage which has ensured that lacrosse remains a symbol of tradition, athleticism and cultural unity, reflecting both its origins and the diverse communities that have embraced it.
Uniquely, men’s and women’s organized lacrosse developed in parallel dating back to the 19th century, led by the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. International Federations were separately established in the 1970s, then merged in 2008 with a united vision of returning to the Olympics.
Australia has a rich lacrosse history with lacrosse first introduced to Australia in 1876, when the first practice match was played at Albert Park, by players from the Melbourne Lacrosse Club. Lacrosse is now played around Australia in most states and territories with clubs across the country but predominant in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth with a number of clubs being over 100 years old. Lacrosse Australia’s Sporting Schools brand, Quickstix, is also enjoying significant growth with Quickstix now being delivered all around Australia to both metropolitan and regional areas.
Australia has been instrumental in the development of lacrosse as a global sport. The formation of the International Lacrosse Federation in 1974, the precursor to the current governing body World Lacrosse, was the culmination of the tireless efforts of Laurie Turnbull, an Australian, who forged relationships with his counterparts in England, Canada and the USA to facilitate international competition and unify the disparate rulesets that were used in each country. Turnbull became the inaugural President of the ILF, and the trophy for the quadrennial World Lacrosse Men’s Championship from 1974 until 2018, was named in his honour.
The Australian Women’s team is the only country other than USA, to be crowned Women’s World Champions, with Australia having won gold in 1986 and 2005. The Australia’s Men’s team has regularly featured in the top three at World Championship events, having won silver three times and bronze on a further seven occasions. Both teams recently finished fourth at their respective World Championship events in 2022 and 2023.
From an Australian perspective, the return to the Olympics is widely considered as being the most significant development in the sport since its arrival almost 150 years ago. It is hoped that the Olympics will finally give lacrosse a platform to exponentially expand its reach around Australia, bringing lacrosse to the Australian sporting public in a way that it never been able to do before.
As the global lacrosse community and the Olympic family unite in celebration, the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles promises to be a stage for the very best lacrosse athletes as they compete for the sport’s highest honour.
Comments attributed to Sue Redfern, President, World Lacrosse
“There is no greater designation than to be recognized as an Olympic sport. The global lacrosse family has been passionately working toward reaching this pinnacle for more than a decade. This seminal achievement would not have been possible without the effort of many visionary and dedicated individuals who collectively recognized that Olympic inclusion is the most significant catalyst for the continued growth of a sport. I offer our sincere gratitude to LA28 and the IOC for allowing us to realize our vision; now is our time to shine and show the world how lacrosse contributes to a better tomorrow.”
Comments attributed to Abbie Burgess-Brice, Chair, Lacrosse Australia
“This is a dream come true for not only our global lacrosse community but for Australian lacrosse players and fans everywhere. It is such an honour to be able to return to the world’s biggest in stage at LA28 and to now be able to compete for what will instantly be the highest honour in our sport. More importantly, I am just thrilled that young Australian lacrosse players will be able to now strive to become Olympians, which I hope will not only inspire our youth to new heights, but will attract many more young athletes to our sport”
Comments attributed to Lachlan Walker, 2023 Australian Men’s Lacrosse Team Captain & Member of 2022 Australian Men’s Sixes Team
“This is such an amazing result. The opportunity to showcase the sport we love and dedicate our lives to on the Olympic stage is a such a dream come true. It is also an amazing opportunity to get more eyes on lacrosse to be able to continue the growth of our great game. Having played in the 2022 World Games, the atmosphere during the Men’s and Women’s games were electric and demonstrated why our sport should be a part of the Olympic Games. I know that now we will be given the chance to showcase to the world, the world is just going to love the sport of lacrosse”
Comments attributed to Olivia Parker, Member of 2022 Australian Women’s Lacrosse Team & 2022 Australian Women’s Sixes Team
“The introductions of lacrosse into the Olympics gives me so much pride and excitement. This announcement will inject new passion and aspirations for young athletes around the globe and in Australia and I am so grateful to be a part of this historical progress for our sport”
Comments attributed to Mitchell Baker, Member of 2022 Australian U21 Men’s Lacrosse Team & 2023 Australian Men’s Lacrosse Team
“Being able to watch the Olympics every four years was such a core childhood memory of mine and to think there is now a chance that I can participate in an Olympic Games and become an Olympian, as a lacrosse player, is just the most incredible feeling”
Comments attributed to Miriam Suares-Jury, Member of 2024 Australian U20 Women’s Lacrosse Team Squad
“To be an Olympian is the ultimate achievement for any athlete and to know that I could potentially one day follow in the footsteps of so many of Australia’s greatest athletes is so inspiring. As a young lacrosse player, the thought of potentially being able to be part of an Australian Olympic Lacrosse team in the future, adds a whole new level of motivation that will not only drive me in my lacrosse journey, but my Aussie squad mates as well”
Comments attributed to Jeff Kennedy, former Captain of Australian Men’s Team & 1982 World MVP
“The announcement of lacrosse’s inclusion in the 2028 LA Olympics is a great opportunity for us to showcase our sport to the rest of the world. As a past Australian player who was involved in the 1984 demonstration game just prior to the 1984 LA Olympics, I still to this day cherish to the experience and I am so excited for the next generation to not only be able to do the same thing, but to also be able to chase medals as a full participant in the Olympics.”
Comments attributed to Jen Adams, former Captain of Australian Women’s Team & 2005 World Champion
“This news gives me goosebumps! To imagine young Australian lacrosse players now being able to grow up with the dream of standing on an Olympic podium and being able to represent our country on the world’s largest sporting stage is so incredible. This is everything our amazing sport needs to explode and attract our countries best athletes and the exposure that they need to bring home gold. We belong at the Olympics and I for one am extremely grateful to everyone who has made this happen”
ENDS
For any further media enquiries please contact:
Abbie Burgess-Brice
Chair, Lacrosse Australia
abbie.burgess@lacrosse.com.au
0401 812 141