Lacrosse at the Summer Olympics

Lacrosse at the Summer Olympics
IOC CodeLAX
Governing bodyWorld Lacrosse
Events1 (men)
Summer Olympics
  • 1956
  • 1960
  • 1964
  • 1968
  • 1972
  • 1976
  • 1980
  • 1984
  • 1988
  • 1992
  • 1996
  • 2000
  • 2004
  • 2008
  • 2012
  • 2016
  • 2020
  • 2024
Note: demonstration or exhibition sport years indicated in italics

Lacrosse has been contested at two editions of the Summer Olympic Games, 1904 and 1908.[1][2][3] Both times a Canadian team won the competition.[4] In its first year, two teams from Canada and one team from the United States competed at the games in St. Louis, Missouri. Only two teams, one from Canada and one from Great Britain competed in 1908 in London.[5]

Lacrosse was also held as a demonstration event at the 1928, 1932, and 1948 Summer Olympics. In 1928 and 1932 the United States was represented by the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays men's lacrosse team, and in 1948 by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (R.P.I.).[6][7] Canada sent an all-star team in 1928 and 1932; Great Britain sent an all-star team in 1928 and 1948.

The International Olympic Committee granted provisional status to World Lacrosse in 2018 and was later approved to be included in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. It will be played in the lacrosse sixes format.[8]

  1. ^ Fisher, Donald M. (14 March 2002). Lacrosse: A History of the Game. JHU Press. p. 155. Retrieved 2 December 2016 – via Internet Archive. lacrosse olympics.
  2. ^ "STX Blog - 7 Reasons Why Lacrosse Should be an Olympic Sport". Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  3. ^ Nathan, Daniel A. (1 August 2016). Baltimore Sports: Stories from Charm City. University of Arkansas Press. ISBN 9781682260050. Retrieved 2 December 2016 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Mallon, Bill; Heijmans, Jeroen (11 August 2011). Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810875227. Retrieved 2 December 2016 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Olympics: Lacrosse looks to Summer Games future after IOC vote". 4 August 2016. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  6. ^ "Lacrosse Programme" (PDF). Wsyacy.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-08. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
  7. ^ Pietramala, David G.; Grauer, Neil A. (17 May 2006). Lacrosse: Technique and Tradition, The Second Edition of the Bob Scott Classic. JHU Press. ISBN 9780801883712. Retrieved 2 December 2016 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "IOC Approves Lacrosse for 2028 Summer Olympics". www.usalaxmagazine.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.