The LA Olympics are about to get very real for Angelenos and fans of Flag Football. A newly approved update to the 2028 Games Plan shifts major Olympic and Paralympic events into existing venues across the city, saving money and bringing the action closer to local communities.
Where will flag football debut in the LA Olympics?
A major highlight of this update: Flag Football will debut as an Olympic sport, and it’s happening right in Exposition Park, at the stadium next to the LA Memorial Coliseum. This same location will also host Lacrosse, returning to the Olympic stage after over 100 years.
Also joining the lineup: the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, which is set to host the semi-final and final matches of Men’s and Women’s Soccer. This legendary venue will make Olympic history once again, becoming one of only two stadiums ever used in three different Olympic Games: 1932, 1984, and now 2028, although it is pending final IOC Executive Board approval.
Other big additions include:
- 🤸🏼♀️ Gymnastics at Crypto.com Arena in Downtown LA.
- 🚴 BMX Freestyle and BMX Racing in the Valley.
- 🛹 Skateboarding Park and Street also in the Valley.
- ⛹🏻♀️ Olympic 3×3 Basketball in the Sepulveda Basin area.
New Sports, New Locations
For the first time in Olympic history, the San Fernando Valley will host events like Skateboarding, BMX Racing, and 3×3 Basketball, all taking place at the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area.
Also coming to the same site: the Modern Pentathlon, a high-energy multi-sport event that includes running, swimming, fencing, shooting, and horseback riding, all happening in one day.
These changes are possible because they’re moving Olympic and Paralympic Archery to the main part of the world-class sports center in the city of Carson, which is an LA28 Venue City. This will make the most of an existing building that’s also going to host Track Cycling, Hockey, Rugby Sevens, and Tennis.
To streamline costs and use existing elite venues, some sports are being moved outside the city. These include:
- 🛶 Canoe Slalom and Softball in Oklahoma City, at facilities that regularly host global competitions.
- 🏊 Swimming and Artistic Swimming will move to venues outside LA (specific locations pending).
- 🏀 Basketball, Equestrian, Shooting, and Sitting Volleyball will also take place outside city limits.
Local Impact for Angelenos
For residents all across California, this isn’t just a sports event. It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to have the Olympics in your backyard. These kinds of events will create memories that will last a lifetime.
Even if you’re not into sports, this is a cultural shift. More events mean more energy, tourism, and economic activity. For Angelenos, the 2028 Olympic Games are coming to your doorstep, not just downtown, but California.