Beijing Olympics Sports List

Critics accuse the Olympic Games of being a global tribute to wretched excess in sports, but even a five-ring circus has to operate on a budget. Organizers are forever looking for ways to trim expenses, and that occasionally results in a less popular sport being dropped from the program.

If you’re a big fan of Olympic baseball or softball, Beijing could be your last chance to soak it all in. After the 2008 Summer Games, those U.S.-centric events will be going away, reducing the number of sports from 28 to 26 when the big show rolls into London in 2012.

Here’s a list of who made the cut:

Aquatics

Archery

Athletics

Badminton

Basketball

Boxing

Canoeing

Cycling

Equestrian

Fencing

Football (Soccer)

Gymastics

Handball

Hockey (Field)

Judo

Modern Pentathlon

Rowing

Sailing

Shooting

Table Tennis

Taekwondo

Tennis

Triathlon

Volleyball

Weight Lifting

Wrestling

Source: International Olympic Committee