OKLAHOMA CITY — Multiple sporting events for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will now be held in Oklahoma, according to an updated venue plan released by officials on June 21.
The plan now lists Oklahoma City as hosting the woman's softball and canoe slalom events.
An official announcement from LA28, the committee working to make the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics happen, says that the update is the first in a series that will ensure the different events take place in popular, world-class venues to enhance the experience.
Officials say that the venues in Oklahoma City will add to the experience for athletes and fans alike, while reducing the need for constructing temporary venues elsewhere, a move that will reportedly save money and be more sustainable.
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt says that the plan has been in the works for years, and it's now finally coming to fruition.
"Today I can confirm that for the past six years, we have been working closely with leaders from LA28 and the City of Los Angeles to develop a plan to support LA’s delivery of the 2028 summer Olympics by hosting all Canoe Slalom and Women’s Softball events in Oklahoma City."
Los Angeles' plans for the Olympics have been in the works since 2017, when the city was bidding on the chance to host the legendary international sporting event.
"Oklahoma City has hosted many international competitions at our unique, world-class whitewater and softball venues. We are confident we will be an outstanding partner to LA28 in creating a dynamic environment for Olympians and fans. We are excited about the opportunity to support one of America’s great global cities, Los Angeles, and work closely with the LA28 organizing committee to ensure that the 2028 Olympic Games are a success," Holt said.
Holt adds that the "full story of this historic journey" has not yet been shared yet but will be in the future.
"In the meantime, I thank our friends in Los Angeles for their partnership that has brought us to this point," Holt said.
LA28 says that the move to Oklahoma City for the softball and canoe slalom events will ensure that those athletes get to participate in the best venues possible.
"While Southern California has more professional and collegiate sports venues than any area in the United States, there is no Canoe Slalom venue that exists locally (or anywhere in the Western US), and the largest Softball venue in Southern California seats fewer than 2,000 people, which does not meet the expected spectator demand for Softball at the Olympic Games," LA28 said.
Instead of taking on additional construction and erecting temporary venues, the two events were assigned to Oklahoma City, which LA28 says will help move the group away from temporary stadiums will also make the games more sustainable.
"These assignments are also in alignment with the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020+5 recommendation which emphasizes sustainability by encouraging the use of existing venues beyond the region of the Host City," LA28 said.
"We look forward to partnering with these venues, and their experienced operators and workforce, to deliver an unparalleled experience for athletes and fans in 2028," added Casey Wasserman, Chairperson and President of LA28.
"Both the Canoe Slalom and Softball venues in Oklahoma City are built to international competition standards, ensuring a high-quality experience for athletes and fans, while allowing LA28 to realize cost savings and revenue gains to support its balanced budget," LA28 said, adding that the group "recognizes that the Oklahoma City community has consistently supported top events for both sports and is confident that they will for these Olympic competitions as well."
The events in Oklahoma City will be some of the only 2028 Olympic events held outside the state of California.
The United States has hosted the games eight times before, with Los Angeles hosting them in 1984 and 1932.
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