The 2024 Paris Olympics have concluded, marking the end of Paris’ first Summer Games in a century. Now, attention turns to the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles. This will be the first time the U.S. has hosted the Olympics in over 30 years.
Dates and Schedule
The 2028 Olympics will commence on July 14, 2028, with the Opening Ceremony. The Games will wrap up on July 30, with both ceremonies taking place at the Los Angeles Coliseum and SoFi Stadium. The Paralympic Games will follow, starting on August 15 and running through August 27.
Previous U.S. Hosts
Los Angeles has hosted the Olympics twice before: in 1932 and 1984. The only other U.S. cities to host the Summer Olympics are St. Louis (1904) and Atlanta (1996). The Winter Olympics have been held in the U.S. four times, with a fifth edition scheduled within the next decade.
New and Returning Sports
The 2028 Games will introduce several new sports and bring back some that haven’t been featured in a while.
Flag Football: For the first time, both men’s and women’s flag football will be included. It’s not yet clear which NFL players will participate, though some, like Patrick Mahomes, have expressed interest.
Squash: After multiple attempts to enter the Olympics, squash will make its debut in 2028.
Baseball and Softball: These sports will return following their absence in Paris. They were last included in Tokyo 2020.
Lacrosse and Cricket: Both sports will make a comeback after more than a century. Lacrosse was last played in 1908, and cricket was featured only once, in 1900.
Breaking: Although breaking was included in the Paris Games, it will not be part of the Los Angeles Olympics.
Venues
The 2028 Olympics will utilize several notable venues across Los Angeles:
Los Angeles Coliseum: This iconic venue will host track and field events. It was also used for these events in 1932 and 1984.
SoFi Stadium: Located in Inglewood, SoFi Stadium will feature a swimming pool for aquatic events. However, diving will take place outdoors at Exposition Park, near the Coliseum.
Crypto.com Arena: This arena, home to the Los Angeles Lakers, will host gymnastics, rather than basketball.
Intuit Dome: The new arena in Inglewood, which will be the home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, will host basketball events.
Riviera Country Club: Known for its PGA Tour events, Riviera will be the venue for golf.
Rose Bowl: Likely to host the soccer finals, the Rose Bowl in Pasadena previously hosted the World Cup final in 1994. It may also host early soccer matches.
Additional Information
The LA 28 organizing committee is still finalizing details for some sports venues. Updates and further information can be found on their official site.