More venues announced for 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles
FILE – An LA 2028 sign is seen in front of the Olympic cauldron at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017. The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics have announced more venue assignments, with the cities of Carson and Long Beach reprising their roles from previous games held in the region. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)
LOS ANGELES – Following updates to venue plans for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, LA28 officials have announced more than a dozen facility assignments that will host sporting events in Los Angeles, Carson and Long Beach.
In addition to diving, gymnastics and track and field, seven more Olympic sports will be coming to venues along Figueroa Street between Exposition Park and downtown Los Angeles, according to LA28, the planning committee preparing for the Games.
Badminton will be played at the USC Sports Center, home of the University of Southern California’s basketball and volleyball teams. The Convention Center – used at the 1984 Games as the Main Press Center – will host five Olympic sports in 2028, including fencing, judo, table tennis, Taekwondo and wrestling.
Judo and wrestling competitions were previously assigned to Pauley Pavillion at UCLA’s campus.
Across the street, the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles will host the weightlifting competition. On the other side of city, golf will be played at The Riviera Country Club in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The country club has also been used to host the Los Angeles’ annual PGA Tour event, and has previously hosted the US Open, PGA Championship, US Amateur, US Senior Open and NCAA Championships.
In Carson, the LA Galaxy‘s home stadium, Dignity Health Sports Park, will host cycling-track events in the Velodrome, hockey at The Fields adjacent to the stadium, Rugby Sevens in the stadium and tennis in the Tennis Center.
The Velodrome is an official US Olympic Training Site and serves as the home track for USA Cycling’s national track and cycling program.
The Fields, currently used as training grounds for the LA Galaxy, will be made into a temporary hockey venue. The Tennis Center is home to the US Tennis Association’s High-Performance Training Center and has hosted various professional Women’s Tennis championships and tournaments.
In the 1984 Games, Carson’s Velodrome hosted cycling-track events, and has since been refurbished.
Long Beach will host handball events at the Long Beach Arena, canoe-spring and rowing events at Marine Stadium, sailing will be held in the water along the Belmont Shore, water polo at temporary aquatics center at the Convention Center lot, and marathon swimming and triathlon competitions will be held at the Waterfront along Alamitos Beach.
Rowing and canoe spring was previously set to be held at Lake Perris, in Riverside County, but officials relocated the event to Long Beach, which involved arrangements supported by the World Rowing Congress.
The city of Long Beach previously hosted archery, fencing, sailing and volleyball at the 1984 Games. Long Beach’s Marine Stadium also hosted rowing events at the 1932 Games.
“The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will reflect all that the Los Angeles area has to offer, and with these venue assignments, we’re very proud to bring the Games to many of our vibrant and diverse communities,” said LA28 Chief Athlete Officer Janet Evans. “The city of Los Angeles will host more Olympic sports than anywhere else, and Carson and Long Beach, which hosted competitions in previous Games, will host more competitions than ever before.”
Evans described the venues as “world-class,” and these sites will provide the best conditions for athletes and fans.
According to LA28, the announcement includes venue assignments that are both unchanged from the original 2017 bid plan, along with new facilities.
These assignments have been approved by the International Olympic Committee Executive Board and assessed in consultation with each respective International Federation, as well as follow Games Agreements with the cities of Carson and Long Beach.
Per guidelines, LA28 will not use existing corporate or philanthropic names for stadiums and arenas for Games purposes.
Officials say that in the months ahead, additional venue assignments in the city of LA and elsewhere will be announced, including for new sports that have been added since the original bid plan.
LA28 previously proposed several venue assignments that move some competitions outside of LA’s boundaries, which requires written consent from city leaders. The LA City Council is currently reviewing that proposal. (CNS)
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