The plan for the 2028 Summer in Los Angeles, USA is set. Here’s all you need to know about the latest changes and newest additions to one of sport’s biggest events.
Which new sports will be included in LA28?
Reflecting evolving global interests and aiming to engage younger audiences, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the inclusion of five new sports. There will be 22 more medal events in LA than in Paris.
Baseball/Softball are returning to the Olympic program, with both sports having a strong following in Central and South America, East Asia and the Caribbean.
Another sport also making a comeback is , having last appeared in 1900. The fast-pace Twenty20 format will aim to engage with the South Asian countries in particular.
Squash and are set for their Olympic debuts, with this variation of American football emphasizing speed and strategy without physical contact. Meanwhile, lacrosse (sixes) is returning after appearances in the early 20th century but with a faster-paced version aiming to captivate fans.
While not new sports, the swimming program will add six new medal events, including the 50m backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly events for both men and women. As a result, there will be a record 351 medal events in LA, an increase of 22 from Paris 2024.
Which sports will have new mixed events?
In a move towards greater inclusivity, LA28 is also to feature new mixed-gender events.
The first mixed-gender event at the Olympics happened in 1900, but really the idea has been growing since 2010 and really burst into life at the .
In Los Angeles, six new mixed events will be added, including track and field where a new 4×100 mixed relay will be on show. will see male and female athletes collaborate for the first time, although the exact nature of the event will be confirmed at a later date. There will also be mixed-gender events in golf, archery, rowing (costal beach sprint) and table tennis with the aim of promoting gender parity and offering a platform for male and female athletes to compete together.
What are the key advancements in gender equality?
After the Paris Games achieved 50:50 gender parity for athletes, LA28 will implement significant measures to further promote .
For the first time in Olympic history, the number of female athlete quota spots (5,655) will surpass male quota spots (5,543). The IOC has said the milestone shows its “commitment to achieving .”
Women’s football, which remains a fully professional tournament, will expand to 16 teams from 12. Meanwhile, the men’s tournament, which is an U23s competition, is going in the opposite direction reducing from 16 teams down to 12. Water polo will also add two women’s teams to match the men’s competition, achieving full gender parity in team sports for the first time. There will also be 12 teams per gender in 3×3 basketball, which is a big jump from Paris where only eight featured.
And after surviving a vote to remain at the Olympics, boxing will see the addition of a seventh women’s weight category .
How will LA28 attempt to tackle sustainability and climate change?
Aiming to emphasize and the rich sporting heritage of the city, LA28 will host events in a number of renowned venues.
Swimming competitions will be held at the SoFi Stadium, accommodating 38,000 spectators, making it the largest natatorium in Olympic history.
The Los Angeles Lakers stadium will host all artistic gymnastics events, while track and field events will be held at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, maintaining its Olympic legacy from the 1932 and 1984 Games.
LA have also said they are hoping to host a “no-car Games”, with the aim of reducing congestion and . This will be a challenge for a city with an infamous traffic problem.
The post Los Angeles Olympics: More women than men appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
