Some of the events planned for the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 are far from the heart of the city. There’s soccer at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (11 miles from downtown L.A.). There’s volleyball in Anaheim (30 miles). There’s surfing in San Clemente (64 miles).
But two competitions are so far-flung that they’re out of state: canoe slalom and softball, both of which will be held in Oklahoma City (1,327 miles).
That’s right: the Los Angeles Olympics won’t entirely be in the Los Angeles area.
As the city prepares to host the 2028 Olympics — a marketing and logistical juggernaut that is expected to draw more than 10,000 athletes from around the world and pump millions of tourism dollars into the local economy — the Oklahoma City connection has become a curious footnote that has befuddled some Angelenos.
Los Angeles officials don’t view Oklahoma City as taking away any of their Olympic spotlight. Rather, they said they’re grateful: Oklahoma City is saving cash-strapped Los Angeles money.
Organizers for the 2028 Games have promised to deliver a so-called no-build Olympics, a cost-cutting move that means no new permanent stadiums or infrastructure will be built. Los Angeles faces both a budget crisis and a challenging disaster recovery effort following January wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes.
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