OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee announced Friday that Oklahoma City will help Los Angeles host two events during the 2028 Olympics.
Four years later, Oklahoma City is set to host the canoe slalom and softball events at the 2028 Olympic Games.
Both the canoe slalom and softball venues in Oklahoma City are being built to international standards, but Los Angeles has no canoe slalom and Southern California has no softball venues that can meet the expected spectator demand, according to a news release.
“LA28 also recognizes that the Oklahoma City community has consistently supported premier events in both sports and is confident that they will do the same for the upcoming Olympic competition,” the news release said.
Several sports are expected to be played outside of Los Angeles in 2028, but are subject to city approval.
Olympic swimming to Inglewood, Paralympic swimming to Long Beach, Olympic artistic swimming to Long Beach, Olympic basketball to Inglewood, Olympic canoe slalom to Oklahoma City, Olympic and Paralympic equestrian to Temecula, Olympic and Paralympic shooting to existing venues outside of Los Angeles
Softball will return to the Olympic Games in 2028.
“The sport, our softball, is finally getting back to the level it should be at, the elite of the elite,” USA Softball CEO Craig Kress told KOCO 5 in 2023.
The opening ceremony of the Los Angeles Olympics is scheduled for July 14, 2028. No start date has been announced for the two events in Oklahoma City.