Long Beach, Carson leaders welcome additional sports as venue cities for 2028 Olympics – Press Telegram

City leaders from Long Beach and Carson, venue cities slated for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics say they are excited to take on additional sports after LA28 unveiled its most recent plans on Tuesday, April 15.

Following approval from the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board last week, Long Beach will now host 11 sporting events and Carson will add two sports to their list of events.

LA28 on Tuesday also announced a series of other significant venue moves, including Dodger Stadium hosting the baseball competition and Santa Anita being the new home of the equestrian events.

These relocations and additions to existing plans more than doubled Long Beach’s initial bid assignments, making it the host of the second-highest number of sports after Los Angeles, city officials said. Joining the list of Olympic sporting events to be held in Long Beach are beach volleyball, coastal rowing, sport climbing and target shooting.

“Long Beach is now confirmed to serve as a premier waterfront venue for the 2028 Games,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement. “We are thrilled and honored to have beach volleyball join the list of acclaimed sporting events to be held on our iconic coastline, from sailing to water Polo, and we are excited to open our doors to the world and showcase the culture, diversity and spirit of our community.

“We are proud to share our unique waterfront with athletes and fans from across the globe as we unite to celebrate the power of sport,” Richardson added. “This presents a generational economic opportunity for our city, and we look forward to working with LA28 as we continue to prepare for this monumental experience.”

Earlier this month, LA28 began having ongoing conversations with representatives of Huntington Beach as they looked for a home for the beach volleyball competition after the local organizing committee broke off negotiations with Santa Monica. Long Beach was among other possible sites to replace Santa Monica as host — and is now confirmed to showcase the event at Alamitos Beach.

“(Beach) volleyball is undeniably one of the most popular events outside of gymnastics in the Olympics and to be able to have this in Long Beach is huge,” Second District Councilmember Cindy Allen said in a phone interview. “I would imagine as the community is reading these press releases today, they are as excited as I am that we are going to be welcoming the nation to Long Beach right here on Alamitos Beach, right here in District 2. I’m really excited and thankful to LA28 and also the city of Long Beach for being prepared to take on these big events.”

This brings beach volleyball closer to a variety of other sports in Long Beach, including coastal rowing, LA28’s newest discipline, which will make its first Olympic appearance along the Long Beach waterfront. Coastal rowing, as its name implies, is a sport in which crews race along those coastline; there are two types, endurance and beach sprinting.

Sport climbing, meanwhile, will take place in the Convention & Entertainment Center’s parking lot, framing the temporary climbing wall with the nearby Pacific Ocean as a backdrop, officials said; sport climbing is essentially rock climbing. Target shooting will also take place at the Convention Center in a purpose-built, temporary indoor range. The 2028 Games will be the first time the precision sport will be within walking distance of other Olympic disciplines.

“Preparations have already begun, and planning and liaising with IOC and LA28 has also begun,” Steve Goodling, president and CEO of Visit Long Beach, said in a Tuesday phone interview. “It’s going to be awesome to have beach volleyball, sailing and water polo all being done along the water in addition to other water sports, which will absolutely showcase Long Beach at its finest. It’s advertising that we could never buy.”

The four new events join a list of other confirmed sports, including handball at the Long Beach Arena, canoe-sprint and rowing competitions at Marine Stadium, sailing in the waters along Belmont Shore, marathon swimming along the waterfront, and artistic swimming — formerly known as synchronized swimming — and water polo in temporary aquatic centers at the Convention Center lot.

Triathlon competitions were also previously announced for Long Beach, but have been relocated by LA28 and will instead be in Venice Beach, according to an LA28 press release.

Long Beach’s involvement in the 2028 Olympic Games will not only raise the city’s international profile as a world-renowned destination for business, tourism and special events, officials said, but it will also generate significant economic activity for the city and enhance the livability of Long Beach residents and visitors for generations to come.

“Long Beach is a vibrant city, known for its rich diversity, stunning coastal views and unmatchable charm,” Councilmember Mary Zendejas said in a written statement. “It is no surprise the world is taking notice.

“As the proud Councilwoman representing our dynamic downtown entertainment district, I am thrilled and honored to welcome even more sports events to our city,” added Zendejas, who is also the chair of Long Beach’s Arts, Culture and Tourism Committee. “This exciting momentum reflects everything that makes Long Beach a premier destination and a true gem. It is very exciting to be on the global stage.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn applauded the news that Long Beach – one of the cities she represents – will host 11 sports in the 2028 Olympics. In light of this news, Hahn said she is proposing that Metro operate a water taxi from San Pedro to Long Beach during the games.

“Long Beach will be the place to be in 2028 and I want us to get creative about how people will get there,” Hahn said in a Tuesday statement. “I am proposing that Metro operate a water taxi between San Pedro and Long Beach as a fun and innovative way to get people around during the games.”

Hahn is currently chair of the Metro Board of Directors and chair of Metro’s Ad-Hoc Committee on the Olympic and Paralympic Games. At the next ad-hoc committee meeting, Hahn will introduce a motion to have Metro explore the feasibility of the agency operating a water taxi during the 2028 Games, according to a press release.

Carson, meanwhile, became the venue city for rugby and archery.

Carson was the first venue city to sign an agreement with the LA28 committee, officials from that said in a Tuesday statement, signifying its commitment to and enthusiasm for being a part of the games.

After initially bringing track cycling, rugby sevens, hockey and tennis to the city, officials said, they were thrilled to add two new sports to the list.

“Being the first city to sign up for LA28 is just a testament to the city’s commitment to progress,” Councilmember Jim Dear said in a statement. “For Carson to welcome archery and rugby, it allows us to showcase the versatility of our facilities and is a testament to Carson’s ability to embrace diverse world-class events. It’s a chance for everyone in Carson and visitors to feel that Olympic buzz right here at home.”

International rugby events have been hosted at the city’s Dignity Health Sports Park, and although Carson has not previously been known for hosting archery events, it is a prime location with its flexibility to accommodate the sport and proximity to freeways. The city does, however, have a local archery facility that provides coaching and lessons for people 8 years old and up.

By maximizing the use of Carson’s existing infrastructure, these relocations will ensure significant cost savings and elevate the city’s role in the global sports community, officials said.

“We are so excited that rugby and archery have been added to our list of events. Carson is no stranger to rugby as we have hosted rugby sevens events at our Sports Park,” Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes said in a written statement. “The city of Carson has included archery in our enrichment programs for decades. I can’t wait for our children to be able to watch it played on the global stage in their hometown.”

Originally Published: April 15, 2025 at 5:15 PM PDT

[ad_1]

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}

[ad_2]