2028 Summer Olympics facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Games of the XXXIV Olympiad

One of many variations of the logo; a general template is shown below
Host city	Los Angeles, United States
Events	353 in 36 sports
Opening	July 14, 2028
Closing	July 30, 2028
Stadium	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (simultaneous opening and closing ceremonies) SoFi Stadium (simultaneous opening ceremony)
Summer
← Paris 2024 Brisbane 2032 →
Winter
← Milano Cortina 2026 Alpes 2030 →

The 2028 Summer Olympics, also known as Los Angeles 2028 or LA28, will be a huge international sports event. It is planned to happen from July 14 to July 30, 2028, in the United States. The main host city will be Los Angeles, California. Some events will also take place in other cities around Los Angeles, and even two locations in Oklahoma City.

Los Angeles first wanted to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. But after some changes, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to choose hosts for both the 2024 and 2028 Games at the same time. Paris was chosen for 2024, and Los Angeles agreed to host in 2028. Los Angeles officially received the Games on September 13, 2017.

This will be the fifth time the United States hosts the Summer Olympics. Los Angeles has hosted before in 1932 and 1984. It will be the third city ever to host the Summer Olympics three times.

Some exciting sports like skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing are now permanent Olympic sports. New sports like flag football and squash will make their debut. Also, baseball/softball, cricket, and lacrosse will return to the Games.

Choosing the Host City

The process to choose the host city for the 2024 Summer Olympics began in 2015. Five cities initially wanted to host: Budapest, Hamburg, Los Angeles, Paris, and Rome. However, Budapest, Hamburg, and Rome later decided not to continue. This left only Los Angeles and Paris.

Because only two cities remained, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) thought about choosing hosts for both the 2024 and 2028 Games at the same time. This idea was approved in July 2017. Meetings were held to decide which city would host each year.

Paris was a strong choice for 2024 because it would be 100 years since they last hosted in 1924. On July 31, 2017, Los Angeles agreed to be the host for 2028. The IOC also gave Los Angeles extra funding. The Los Angeles City Council approved this plan on August 11, 2017.

Finally, on September 13, 2017, Los Angeles was officially chosen to host the 2028 Games. The IOC president, Thomas Bach, praised Los Angeles for planning to use many existing buildings and for funding the Games privately. The state of California also supported the bid in October 2017. Polls showed that many people in Los Angeles were excited about hosting the Olympics.

Preparing for the Games

Los Angeles leaders planned to make the 2028 Olympics easy to get around. They wanted to reduce traffic and make travel times shorter. An initiative called "Twenty-eight by '28" aimed to finish 28 big construction projects before the Games. Most of these projects were already planned, but the Olympics helped speed them up.

Funding for these projects came from local sales taxes. The city also encouraged people to work from home during the Games. This would help reduce the number of cars on the roads.

By March 2024, some of the original 28 projects were changed. Smaller projects were chosen instead, as they were easier to finish on time. Some projects were even completed already. By late 2024, there were concerns about funding for Metro's Olympic projects and some delays. Because of these challenges, the city shifted its focus. Instead of a "car-free" Olympics, they aimed for a "transit-first" approach. This means public transport will be the main way to get around.

New Rail Lines and Connections

A K Line train in Inglewood, an area with many Olympic events.

A D Line train at Wilshire/La Cienega station in Beverly Hills.

LA Metro local bus service will be important for getting around.

Several train line expansions are happening to help with Olympic travel. The D Line extension is being built in three parts. The first part, reaching Wilshire/La Cienega, was finished in May 2026. The second part will go to Century City by late 2026. The third part will reach the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center by 2027. This includes a station near UCLA, which will connect the Olympic Village to downtown event locations. Construction started in 2014 and is mostly on schedule.

The Regional Connector was completed in 2023. It connects different train lines in downtown Los Angeles. This makes it easier to travel between areas like Long Beach and Santa Monica, where Olympic events will be held. The K Line opened in October 2022. It connects several districts and will link to a special people mover at LAX. This airport connection is expected to open in October 2026.

Expanding the Bus System

Los Angeles does not have a continuous subway system like some other Olympic cities. So, buses will be very important for spectators. Los Angeles Metro and the Olympic organizers think they will need about 2,700 extra buses. This would almost double the current Metro bus fleet.

Metro has asked other transit agencies across the country to lend buses for the Games. This could add hundreds of vehicles. The cost for this is estimated to be between $700 million and $1 billion. Metro is looking for government grants and plans to sell the extra buses to other cities after the Games. In February 2026, Congress approved $94.3 million for transportation improvements related to the Games.

Funding the Games

The 2028 Los Angeles Games are planned to be funded entirely by private money. This follows the example of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, which was the first to make a profit using corporate sponsorships. In April 2019, the estimated cost was about $6.88 billion. This budget was adjusted for inflation since Los Angeles originally bid for the 2024 Games.

The City of Los Angeles has promised to cover up to $250 million if there are any financial shortfalls. The state of California will cover the next $250 million if needed. The organizers also bought insurance policies. These policies cover unexpected events like natural disasters, terrorism, or low ticket sales. The Games are expected to earn as much as they cost. About $2.5 billion is expected from sponsorships, and nearly $2 billion from ticket sales. Ticket prices will range from $13 to $457 (in 2016 dollars). By late 2025, over $2 billion in sponsorships had already been secured.

Keeping Everyone Safe

The U.S. federal government will manage security for the Games. An agreement was signed in February 2020 between the organizers and the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The federal government will cover security costs but not the Games' overall funding.

These Olympics are the second to be held in the United States since the events of September 11, 2001. Like the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the DHS will call the Olympics a "National Special Security Event." This means the United States Secret Service will lead the security efforts.

Organizers have confirmed that there will be no problems with visas for athletes. They have received support from U.S. presidents from both major political parties. In January 2025, LA28 officials met with then President-elect Trump. His administration promised to help Los Angeles recover from the wildfires and host "the greatest games." In July 2025, $1 billion was set aside for federal security and planning costs.

Olympic Venues

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will host athletics events.

SoFi Stadium will host swimming events and part of the opening ceremony.

Most of the 2028 Summer Olympics will take place in venues around the Greater Los Angeles area. The city's plan mainly uses existing buildings. Some venues were already being built or planned, regardless of the Games. The venues are grouped into "zones" in different parts of the city. These include downtown Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Carson, and Long Beach. No new permanent venues are being built just for the Games. The Olympic Village will be at UCLA, and the Media Village at the University of Southern California.

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will host athletics. The Rose Bowl will host football (soccer). Both stadiums will be the first to host three different Olympic Games. Crypto.com Arena will host gymnastics, and Intuit Dome will host basketball. BMO Stadium will host flag football and lacrosse. SoFi Stadium will host swimming events. Riviera Country Club will host golf.

The Coliseum had major renovations from 2017 to 2019. Crypto.com Arena was also renovated, finishing in 2024. The NBA's Los Angeles Clippers opened their new arena, Intuit Dome, in 2024. Cricket will be played at the Knight Riders Cricket Ground at the Fairplex in Pomona, California. This cricket ground opened in July 2026 and is the only new permanent venue built for the Games in the LA area.

To save money and use existing places, LA28 changed some venue plans in June 2024. Swimming will now be at SoFi Stadium, and artistic swimming in Long Beach. Diving was moved to the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center in Pasadena in September 2025. SoFi Stadium will be the largest swimming venue in Olympic history. Equestrian events will return to Santa Anita Park. Softball and canoe slalom were moved to existing venues in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

In February 2026, six cities outside of Los Angeles were announced to host preliminary football (soccer) matches. These cities include New York City, Nashville, Columbus, St. Louis, San Jose, and San Diego. The match schedule, unveiled in March 2026, will help teams travel efficiently as they advance.

Olympic Torch Relay

In July 2025, the LAOCOG CEO shared plans for the Olympic torch relay. It will visit all 50 U.S. states. This journey aims to connect the entire nation with Los Angeles and California.

Tickets for the Games

Registration for the first ticket lottery opened in January 2026. Fans chosen in the lottery could start buying tickets in March. About 14 million tickets will be available. This is two million more than for the Paris 2024 Games. One million tickets will start at $28, and a third of all tickets will be under $100.

The Games Themselves

Opening and Closing Ceremonies

The opening ceremonies will take place on July 14, 2028. They will be held at both the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium. The Coliseum will also host the closing ceremonies. Filmmaker Peter Rice is in charge of planning these ceremonies.

The idea of using both stadiums was discussed early on. A part of the opening ceremony could start at the Coliseum. Then, the rest of the official events would be shown live on screens from SoFi Stadium. The closing ceremony would follow a similar plan.

Sports and Events

Skateboarding (pictured), surfing, and sport climbing are now permanent Olympic sports.

The 2028 Summer Olympics will feature 353 medal events across 36 sports. This is an increase from the 2024 Summer Olympics. There are 31 "core" sports that are always part of the Games. There are also five "optional" sports chosen by Los Angeles to make the Games more interesting locally.

The core sports include the 28 sports from 2016, plus skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing. These three sports were very popular as optional sports in 2020 and 2024. The five optional sports for 2028 are flag football and squash, which are new to the Olympics. Also returning are baseball/softball, cricket (last seen in 1900), and lacrosse (last a medal event in 1908).

Cricket will have men's and women's tournaments in the Twenty20 (T20) format, with six teams each. Flag football will also have men's and women's tournaments. In May 2025, the National Football League (NFL) announced that its team owners might allow players to compete in flag football. The Canadian Football League made a similar announcement in November 2025.

Lacrosse will use a format called "lacrosse sixes." There have been requests to allow the Haudenosaunee Nationals to compete. Lacrosse is very important to the Haudenosaunee people. While World Lacrosse recognizes them, they do not have a National Olympic Committee.

New events have been added to several sports. These include a mixed relay in athletics, new swimming events, and mixed team events in archery, artistic gymnastics, golf, and table tennis. Sport climbing will now have separate competitions for bouldering and lead climbing. 3x3 basketball will have more teams. Women's boxing and water polo will have more weight classes and teams for fairness. The women's football (soccer) tournament will expand to 16 teams due to its growing popularity, while the men's tournament will be reduced to 12 teams. The 2028 Summer Olympics will be the first to have more female than male athletes. In September 2025, weightlifting also adjusted its categories to align with international standards.

New and Returning Sports

Since 2020, the Summer Olympics have included "core" sports and up to six "optional" sports. In December 2021, the IOC suggested that skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing become core sports. These sports were very successful as optional events in 2020 and 2024.

At the same time, boxing, modern pentathlon, and weightlifting faced challenges with how their sports were managed. The IOC asked their governing bodies to make improvements.

• The International Boxing Association (IBA) had issues with its leadership and finances. A new group called World Boxing was formed to help ensure fair play and good management for the sport. In June 2023, the IOC removed its recognition of the IBA.
• The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) also worked to improve its management and ensure fair competition. They made changes to how drug testing is handled.
• The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) wanted to change one of its events, show jumping, to obstacle course racing. This change was considered after some challenges with horse welfare during the 2020 Olympics. The UIPM approved these changes in November 2022.

In August 2022, LAOCOG considered nine sports as optional events. These included baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse, and squash. In October 2023, LAOCOG officially proposed these five sports to the IOC. All five were approved in Mumbai, India. The IOC also brought back modern pentathlon and weightlifting as core sports, as their governing bodies had made good progress. The IOC later reinstated boxing in March 2025, with World Boxing overseeing the event.

However, for cricket to be played, USA Cricket needs to be certified by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said that USA Cricket needs to improve its organization to meet these standards.

Participating Countries

As of June 2026, eleven nations have qualified for the Games. The United States, as the host country, has a large number of spots. In 2025, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) began discussing how athletes from all countries can participate fairly. This includes athletes from Russia and Belarus, who have faced restrictions since 2022.

Competition Schedule

On July 13, 2025, the Organizing Committee released the first version of the competition schedule. An updated, detailed schedule was published on November 12, 2025. It shows when every medal event will happen across all confirmed sports and venues.

To allow SoFi Stadium to host both the opening ceremonies and swimming, the schedule for swimming and athletics events will be swapped. Athletics will take place during the first week of the Games. SoFi Stadium will then be changed to prepare for swimming competitions in the second week. This is the first time since the 1968 Summer Olympics that athletics will be held in the first week.

All times and dates use Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7).

OC

Opening ceremony

●

Event competitions

1

Gold medal events

CC

Closing ceremony

July 2028		10th Mon	11th Tue	12th Wed	13th Thu	14th Fri	15th Sat	16th Sun	17th Mon	18th Tue	19th Wed	20th Thu	21st Fri	22nd Sat	23rd Sun	24th Mon	25th Tue	26th Wed	27th Thu	28th Fri	29th Sat	30th Sun	Events
Ceremonies						OC																CC	N/A
Aquatics	Artistic swimming																●	1	●	●	1		2
	Diving							●	1	●	1	●	1	1			1	1	1	1			8
	Marathon swimming								1	1													2
	Swimming													4	5	4	5	4	5	4	5	5	41
	Water polo			●	●		●	●	●	●	●	●	●	1	1								2
Archery											●		1	●	●	1	1	1	1	1			6
Athletics							3	4	4	4	5	4	4	5	5	6			2		1	1	48
Badminton							●	●	●	●	●	●	1	1	1	2							5
Baseball/Softball	Baseball				●		●	●	●	●	1												1
	Softball														●	●	●	●	●	●	1		1
Basketball	Basketball			●	●		●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	1	1	2
	3×3 Basketball							●	●	●	●	●	●	2									2
Boxing							●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●				2	2	6	4	14
Canoeing	Slalom					●	1	1	●	1	1	●	●	2									6
	Sprint																●	3	●	3	4		10
Cricket				●	●		●	●	●	●	●	1		●	●	●	●	●	●	●	1		2
Cycling	Road cycling										2			1	1								4
	Track cycling																2	1	3	2	1	3	12
	BMX						●	2												●	2		4
	Mountain biking								1	1													2
Equestrian	Dressage											●	●	1		1							2
	Eventing						●	●	●	2													2
	Jumping																●	1		●	1		2
Fencing							2	2	2	1	1	1	1	1	1								12
Field hockey				●	●		●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	1	1		2
Flag football							●	●	●	●	●	●	1	1									2
Football		●	●		●	●		●	●			●	●		●	●			●	1	1		2
Golf											●	●	●	1	●	1		●	●	●	1		3
Gymnastics	Artistic						●	●	1	1	1	1		3	3	4	1						15
	Rhythmic																		●	1	1		2
	Trampoline												2										2
Handball				●	●		●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	1	1			2
Judo							2	2	2	2	2	2	2	1									15
Lacrosse																●	●	●	●	●	2		2
Modern pentathlon							●	●	1	1													2
Rowing	Rowing						●	●	2	2	2	2	2	2									12
	Coastal rowing															2	1						3
Rugby sevens				●	●		1	●	●	1													2
Sailing								●	●	●	2	2			●	●	●	2	2	2			10
Shooting							2	2	2	2	1	1	●	2	1	1	1						15
Skateboarding										●	1	1					●	1	1				4
Sport climbing																●	●	2	1	2	1		6
Squash							●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	1	1							2
Surfing							●	●	●	2													2
Table tennis							●	●	1	1	1	●	●	1	1	●	●	●	●	●	1		6
Taekwondo																		2	2	2	2		8
Tennis											●	1	●	●	●	●	●	●	2	2			5
Triathlon							1	1				1											3
Volleyball	Beach volleyball						●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	1	1		2
	Volleyball						●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	●	1	1	2
Weightlifting																	2	3	3	2	2		12
Wrestling																●	3	3	3	3	3	3	18
Daily medal events		0	0	0	0	0	12	14	18	22	21	17	15	30	20	23	17	25	29	31	41	18	353
Cumulative total		0	0	0	0	0	12	26	44	66	87	104	119	149	169	192	209	234	263	294	335	353

Marketing the Games

Branding and Logos

A basic version of the Games' logo. The "A" in "LA" changes with different designs.

On September 1, 2020, the LAOCOG revealed the logo for the 2028 Summer Olympics. It features the letters "LA" and the number "28" stacked together. The "A" in "LA" is special because it can change. Many different versions were created with athletes, artists, designers, and famous people. These include singer Billie Eilish and actress Reese Witherspoon.

Some logo versions honor the 1984 Summer Olympics emblem. Others show the flags of France and the United States. One design even pays tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant. The changing "A" also promotes official partners like Delta Air Lines and NBC.

Casey Wasserman, the LAOCOG chair, said the different logos show the city's creativity. They celebrate the many different people who live in Los Angeles. Amy Gleeson, the marketing chief, said the logo was designed to connect with young people who will be in their 20s and 30s during the Games.

On March 28, 2026, LAOCOG revealed the overall look of the Games, called "LA in full bloom." This design is inspired by California's "superbloom" of flowers. It uses 13 different flower-inspired patterns. These patterns reflect the people, life, and culture of Los Angeles. The colors come from Los Angeles's official flower, the Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise). These colors include      poppy,      scarlet flax,      bluebell, and      sagebrush. The branding also uses fonts inspired by the city's street signs.

Company Sponsorships

LAOCOG worked with NBCUniversal, which broadcasts the Olympics in the U.S., to sell sponsorships. Comcast, NBCUniversal's parent company, is a "Founding Partner" of LA 2028.

For the first time, venues can keep their sponsor names during the Games. This is allowed if the sponsor is a worldwide Olympic partner or a founding partner of LA28. The organizers also plan to sell naming rights for temporary venues. This new rule helps ensure the Games are successful without using taxpayer money.

Broadcasting the Games

In the United States, NBCUniversal and Versant properties will broadcast the Games. This is part of a long-term agreement with the IOC until 2036. Comcast, NBCUniversal's parent company, will also help with broadcasting. In January 2026, Comcast and NBCUniversal created a new company called Versant. This company will continue to air Olympics coverage on its cable channels. Hollywood Park Studios is planned to be the main broadcast center for the Games.

See also

In Spanish: Juegos Olímpicos de Los Ángeles 2028 para niños

• 2028 Summer Paralympics
• Olympic Games celebrated in the United States
  • 1904 Summer Olympics – St. Louis
  • 1932 Summer Olympics – Los Angeles
  • 1932 Winter Olympics – Lake Placid
  • 1960 Winter Olympics – Squaw Valley
  • 1980 Winter Olympics – Lake Placid
  • 1984 Summer Olympics – Los Angeles
  • 1996 Summer Olympics – Atlanta
  • 2002 Winter Olympics – Salt Lake City
  • 2028 Summer Olympics – Los Angeles

• List of IOC country codes
• Casey Wasserman – head of the Organizing Committee