In addition to approving swimming’s relocation, the council also approved two new sports to be held within the city – Flag Football, which will make its Olympic debut in 2028, and Lacrosse, which will return as an Olympic medal sport for the first time in over a century. LA28 will use the Stadium in Exposition […]
In addition to approving swimming’s relocation, the council also approved two new sports to be held within the city – Flag Football, which will make its Olympic debut in 2028, and Lacrosse, which will return as an Olympic medal sport for the first time in over a century. LA28 will use the Stadium in Exposition Park, next to the LA Memorial Coliseum, for Flag Football and Lacrosse.
All of the following sports were also approved for relocation outside the city of Los Angeles:
Some other notable approvals by the Los Angeles City Council:
“The City of Los Angeles has been an incredible partner throughout this intricate process, led by the efforts of Mayor Bass, Council President Harris-Dawson, and Executive Director Krekorian, to finalize the 2028 Games Plan,” said LA28 Chief Executive Officer, Reynold Hoover in a press release. “Los Angeles will host an incredible lineup of sports including some of the most popular, dynamic and newest events which are unique to LA28 and will be played across the city, including in the Valley, for the first time in Olympic history.”
Among the changes approved was the relocation of swimming outside the city of Los Angeles, moving it instead to Inglewood, where it will take place at SoFi Stadium, the home of the Los Angeles Chargers and Rams. SoFi Stadium, the nation’s newest and most advanced pro sports stadium, will become the largest swimming venue in Olympic history, with 38,000 seats.
On March 28th, the Los Angeles City Council approved several changes to the 2028 Olympic plan originally proposed by Team LA28 last June.
SwimSwam covered the announcement in June regarding SoFi being selected as the swimming natatorium, but it wasn’t official until the Los Angeles City Council approved the relocation of swimming events outside the city.
Prior to the June announcement, LA28 originally planned to host swimming in a temporary venue at Dedeaux Field, the home of the USC baseball team. However, plans changed following the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials, which took place inside Lucas Oil Stadium — the home of the Indianapolis Colts.
Here’s what the stadium is planned to look like for the 2028 swimming events:
- Olympic Swimming
- Paralympic Swimming
- Olympic Artistic Swimming
- Olympic Basketball
- Olympic Canoe Slalom
- Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian
- Olympic Football Preliminaries
- Paralympic Sitting Volleyball
- Olympic and Paralympic Shooting
“This venue plan sets the stage for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games to engage every part of our city like no Games in history,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “The changes approved by the City Council will improve the financial plan for the Games and help us ensure that LA28 will leave a lasting legacy and turn a profit for the people of Los Angeles — as did our 1932 and 1984 Games. I applaud the City Council for their approval of this plan, and I thank the organizing committee for their continuing hard work to make sure the 2028 Games will make all of America proud as we welcome and inspire the world.”
- Softball and Canoe Slalom were approved to take place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma rather than in Los Angeles. This is because, according to LA28, there are no suitable canoe slalom venues on the west coast, while the largest softball venue in Los Angeles seats less than 2,000 people. Notably, Oklahoma City is home to the USA Softball Hall Of Fame stadium, which seats 13,000 and hosts the Women’s College Softball World Series annually.
- Olympic and Paralympic Archery were moved to the the city of Carson, an LA28 Venue City, maximizing use of an existing facility that will also host Track Cycling, Hockey, Rugby Sevens and Tennis.
- The Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area in the San Fernando Valley was approved to host BMX Freestyle, BMX Racing, Modern Pentathlon, Skateboarding, and 3×3 Basketball.
