Exciting Changes for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently confirmed that the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics will feature 351 gold medals, an increase of 22 since the last Games in Paris. For the first time, there will be an equal number of women’s and men’s teams in all team sports, with a total of approximately 10,500 athletes—5,333 women and 5,167 men. This significant shift is part of a broader effort towards gender parity in sports.
One notable change is in Olympic football, where the number of women’s teams will rise from 12 to 16, whereas the men’s teams will decrease from 16 to 12. Sweden’s women’s football head coach, Peter Gerhardsson, expressed his approval of this decision, highlighting the discrepancy in participation between senior women’s teams and U23 men’s teams. Despite the women’s team missing the upcoming 2024 Olympics, they are aiming for gold in 2028 after securing silver in the previous two Olympic Games.
The introduction of six new mixed competitions marks another groundbreaking change in the Olympics, showcasing events where men and women compete together. Mixed events in archery, artistic gymnastics, athletics, rowing, table tennis, and golf will be added to an already diverse schedule. Sweden's golf coach, Ola Lindgren, expressed excitement over these developments, stating that this has been a long-awaited innovation.
In table tennis, while the mixed team event will replace the men’s team competition, both men’s and women’s doubles will return, resulting in six total events in 2028. Petra Sörling, chairwoman of the International Table Tennis Federation, described the mixed team competition as a historic milestone.
Water polo and boxing, traditionally male-dominated, will see gender parity with equal representation on both sides; 12 teams will compete in water polo for both men and women, and a new weight class in boxing will ensure seven classes for both genders—an evolution from 2008 when boxing was exclusively male.
The swimming events will also expand with the addition of six new gold medals to be contested in the men’s and women’s categories, including the highly anticipated 50-meter butterfly, a specialty of Swedish superstar Sarah Sjöström. Fresh off two Olympic golds in Paris 2024, Sjöström is optimistic for her comeback in 2028, especially after this exciting announcement.
In terms of new sports, 3x3 basketball will expand from 8 teams to 12 for both genders, while climbing events will now feature as individual competitions rather than combined. However, the breakdancing event introduced in Paris will not make a return in LA. Instead, five new sports will debut or return in 2028: cricket, baseball/softball, lacrosse, along with squash and flag football which will offer a modified version of American football.
The Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics are set to take place from July 14 to July 30, with the Paralympics scheduled for August 15 to August 27. The Games will utilize existing venues, a feature highlighted in the city's successful Olympic bid. Notable venues include the LA Memorial Coliseum, hosting athletics just like in the 1932 and 1984 Olympics, while SoFi Stadium will transform into a swimming venue for 38,000 spectators, reflecting Los Angeles' commitment to a sustainable and innovative Olympic experience.
Related Sources: