Los Angeles 2028 is nearing completion! On Tuesday, the organization eliminated a number of question marks by unveiling a near-final venue map. Surfing, equestrian, beach volleyball, squash, boxing, baseball… Some fifteen disciplines have now determined what their competition venues will be in three years. “We promised the world an incredible Olympic Games and we’re proud to share the plan that will make them possible. Los Angeles is at the crossroads of sports, culture and entertainment, and every venue selected for the 2028 Games will offer athletes and fans the best possible experience.”, assures Reynold Hoover, general manager of LA28.
Universal Studios and the Legacy of the 1984 Olympics
In the San Fernando Valley, Sepulveda Park will be buzzing with urban sports. In addition to BMX and skateboarding, the venue will host 3x3 basketball and modern pentathlon, which has been refreshed with the addition of obstacle courses. “Having our sport alongside other vibrant urban sports in the Entertainment Capital of the World will leave an incredible legacy for pentathlon in the United States and around the world.”, welcomes Rob Stull, president of the UIPM. I can't imagine a better place for our Ninja-style obstacle course to make its Olympic debut." Not far from there, squash will make its Olympic debut in a movie set, and the expression is not overused: the sport will be set up in Courthouse Square, an iconic Universal Studios setting, notably used in the film Back to the Future. " A unique and spectacular Hollywood setting for squash's Olympic debut, which I'm sure will excite squash fans around the world ", comments World Squash President Zena Wooldridge.
Squash at the 2028 Olympic Games is going to be a movie. No literally.
— LA28 (@LA28) April 15, 2025
Squash will take place at the Universal Studios Lot in 2028. We can't think of a better place for Squash to tell the story of its Olympic debut than from a venue that has been the setting for so many epic… pic.twitter.com/Ym03ol4IWw
Baseball, another additional sport on the program, will take up residence at the legendary Dodger Stadium, usually occupied by the world-famous Dodgers franchise. A return to its roots, as the stadium had already hosted MLB stars during the 1984 Games, when baseball was a demonstration sport. The memory of 1984 will also be revived by equestrian, which returns to Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, north of Los Angeles. The center has a 26.000-seat grandstand and can accommodate more than 2.000 horses. The FEI has very fond memories of Santa Anita, says Ingmar De Vos, president of the International Equestrian Federation. The venue is expected to provide a breathtaking setting for all Olympic equestrian competitions, and its proximity to the city of Los Angeles will undoubtedly attract large crowds. »
MTB and football, the last boxes to tick
California's beaches won't be left out either. Surfers will enjoy the waves at Trestles Beach in San Clemente, south of Los Angeles. The triathlon will take place at Venice Beach, which will also be the starting point for the marathon and road cycling races. To the south, Long Beach will host beach volleyball, coastal rowing, as well as rock climbing and shooting (rifle/pistol) at the Long Beach Convention Center. Shooting will be " in the immediate vicinity of other Olympic disciplines " for the very first time, notes LA28. Shotgun shooting, on the other hand, will take place at the Shotgun Center in El Monte. Volleyball will land at the Arena of Anaheim, home of the NHL franchise Anaheim Ducks, and cricket will move into a temporary structure in Pomona, east of LA.
Desiring " maximizing the use of existing world-class facilities ", the USC Sports Center will host both gymnastics and badminton. Similarly, boxing will be split between two venues: it will share the Peacock Theater with weightlifting, and the Downtown Arena with gymnastics and trampoline. Carson Stadium will be used for archery and rugby sevens. This plan brings the Games to every corner of our city like never before – from the Sepulveda Basin to the iconic shores of Venice Beach, our world-famous neighborhoods and hidden gems will be showcased for everyone to experience and enjoy. " announces the mayor of the City of Angels, Karen Bass. The site of the mountain bike competitions has yet to be determined, as have the finish locations for the marathon and road cycling races, as well as the list of stadiums that will host the football games, in addition to the Rose Bowl Stadium.
