What We Know About the 2028 Summer Olympic Games

The 2028 Summer Olympics are four years away, yet they are already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated sporting events of the decade. From a host city that marks the return of Olympic tradition to the addition of new events and venues, the 2028 Games will showcase athletic excellence, cultural vibrancy, and innovation. Here is a look at what we know about the 2028 Olympics.

The Host Country and City: Los Angeles, United States of America

Los Angeles, California, is hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics, marking the third time this iconic city has welcomed athletes on the grandest stages. LA first hosted the Games in 1932 and again in 1984. The 2028 Olympics will be the first held in the United States in almost 30 years. Los Angeles brings a legacy of sport, entertainment, and diversity, ensuring that the Games will be held in a city capable of offering an unmatched experience for athletes and visitors worldwide.

The United States knows how to put on a show during sporting spectacles; one only needs to watch the Stanley Cup or Super Bowl to see what we mean. Expect iconic Olympians to provide in-depth analysis of every event, vibrant broadcasts using state-of-the-art technology, and more offers from the MyBookie online sportsbook than you know what to do with. The USA has not hosted the Games since 1996 (Atlanta, Georgia), so you can bet your bottom dollar the country will be going all-out to ensure 2028 is an Olympics to remember.

Venues and Infrastructure

Everyone knows Americans are passionate about sports, especially in Los Angeles, where many world-class venues are accustomed to hosting major sporting events. Some confirmed venues include the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the SoFi Stadium, and the UCLA and USC Campuses.

The Los Angeles Coliseum is one of the most iconic sporting venues on the planet. It was the centerpiece of the 1932 and 1984 Summer Games and is set to host several events in 2028. The stadium is known for its rich history and will introduce new generations to its grandeur while offering a nostalgic experience for Olympic veterans.

The SoFi Stadium only opened in 2020, making it one of the newest additions to Los Angeles' sports venue. It is the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers of National Football League (NFL) fame and is expected to serve as the site for the opening and closing ceremonies. The incredible venue is the most expensive stadium in the world at $5.5 billion, and every one of its 70,000 seats is expected to be sold out from start to finish.

College sports are huge in Los Angeles, so athletes will experience the UCLA and USC campuses' impressive grounds and training facilities. These will serve as the Olympic Villages, boosting high-quality amenities to help the athletes feel at home and perform to the best of their ability.

Confirmed Sports and Events

The usual summer sports, including gymnastics, track and field, and swimming, return for the 2028 Games; these sports form the backbone of any Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) continually looks for ways to add diversity to the Games and has confirmed a few returning events for Los Angeles.

Rock climbing returns after a successful debut in 2021. The sport has gained plenty of traction globally, and Los Angeles' proximity to climbing destinations makes it an ideal setting. Expect to see bouldering and speed climbing on the schedule, two crowd-pleasers in Tokyo.

Surfing and skateboarding were popular at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and both return in 2028. California has a rich skateboarding history and a strong surf culture, making Los Angeles the perfect location for these events. Imagine the world's best surfers competing at Malibu Beach or Huntington Beach!

The IOC approved five proposals the Los Angeles 2028 Organizing Committee proposed. Baseball/softball, cricket for the first time since 1900, flag football, lacrosse for the first time since 1908, and squash are all set to feature in LA, the latter making its Olympic debut.

Weightlifting Survives, But Boxing is On Hold

Two popular events looked set to be scrapped from the 2028 Games: weightlifting and boxing. Weightlifting will be featured in the core program, but boxing will unlikely be seen in Los Angeles.

Weightlifting was shrouded in controversies, particularly around doping and governance issues, and looked set to miss the cut for the Olympics for the first time since 1920.  However, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), particularly its new President, Mohammed Jalood, has overseen many reforms that have proven enough for the IOC to confirm the sport's inclusion in 2028.

Unfortunately for boxing fans, boxing looks set to miss out in Los Angeles. In 2019, the IOC suspended the International Boxing Association (IBA) due to governance, financial, and corruption issues. This resulted in an external IOC task force overseeing the 2020 and 2024 Games. Umar Kremlev, the IBA president, is a controversial figure, not least for his ties and loyalty to Russia. The IOC has stated it can only wait until the end of 2024 to decide on boxing's inclusion in LA. For boxing to feature, the IOC requires it to have a new, widely recognized governing body. Negotiations have so far been fruitless.

Conclusion

Although the 2028 Olympic Games are almost four years away, excitement continues to build with each passing day. Los Angeles boasts iconic venues and exciting new events and promises to leave a lasting legacy on the city and the Olympic movement as a whole. In the coming weeks and months, athletes from all Olympic sports will begin competing to make their respective team's rosters, and the level of competition has never been higher.

As more details emerge, Totallympics will be your one-stop shop for all the news, views, and rumors concerning the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.