The Olympic Games are a celebration of the world’s most iconic athletic disciplines, but what many fans may not realize is that the list of sports in each edition isn’t fixed in stone. Behind the scenes, a complex and highly selective process determines which sports make the cut and which are left behind.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) oversees the selection process, guided by several factors beyond athletic merit alone. Popularity, youth appeal, gender balance, global reach, and cost of hosting all play a critical role. For a sport to be added to the Olympic roster, it must be governed by an international federation that abides by the Olympic Charter and is recognized by the IOC. Once that is established, the sport can be proposed for inclusion.

Host cities now also have the power to suggest additional sports for their edition of the Games. This is how sports like skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing found their way into recent Olympics. These additions are meant to reflect the culture and interests of the host country while appealing to younger audiences. Japan’s inclusion of karate in Tokyo 2020 and France’s choice to bring in breakdancing for Paris 2024 are prime examples.

But just as sports are added, others are sometimes dropped. A sport may be removed due to declining global participation, insufficient viewership, or logistical and financial burdens. For instance, baseball and softball were removed after the 2008 Beijing Olympics due to limited international presence and a professional league calendar conflict. Although they returned for Tokyo 2020, their spot is not guaranteed moving forward.

Another key element is the IOC’s effort to maintain gender equality and reduce the overall number of athletes. This balance often leads to the reshaping of events within a sport—adding mixed-gender competitions while cutting others to stay within athlete quotas. This was seen with the removal of some men’s weightlifting and boxing categories in favor of expanding women’s events.

Controversy and scandals can also spell trouble for a sport. Governance issues, doping violations, or lack of transparency within a sport’s international federation may influence the IOC’s decision to sideline it. Wrestling, a founding sport of the modern Olympics, was briefly removed in 2013 before a massive global campaign led to its reinstatement.

Ultimately, the Olympic program evolves with the times. It is shaped by a desire to be relevant, inclusive, exciting, and feasible. As the world’s tastes and sporting culture shift, so too does the Olympic lineup, ensuring the Games remain a dynamic reflection of the global athletic spirit.