With more than 1,100 days still to go until the start of the 2028 Summer Olympics, the L.A. 2028 organizing committee has already revealed bold plans for its opening and closing ceremonies. In a historic first, the opening ceremony will be shared between two venues: the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the innovative SoFi Stadium.
This new format is being hailed as a blend of Olympic tradition and future innovation.
Welcoming the world in 2028 🌎🏟️
We’re so excited to share that when the Olympic and Paralympic Games come to Los Angeles in 2028, they’ll be kicking off from our stadium.
The Olympics’ return to Los Angeles for the third time will start with the Olympic Opening Ceremony which… pic.twitter.com/hwwMoJxW3u
— SoFi Stadium (@SoFiStadium) May 8, 2025
In 2028, the Coliseum will become the first venue to host Olympic events at three separate Games—1932, 1984, and now, 2028. Meanwhile, SoFi Stadium, home to the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, will take on an Olympic role for the first time and serve as the venue for swimming. That makes it the largest swimming venue in Olympic history.
The Coliseum will host track and field, but with a significant scheduling shift, as it will now take place during the first half of the Games. The swimming events will move to the second half. The change, proposed by World Athletics, aims to boost global viewership and allow for greater pre-Games promotion of athletics.
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The marathon will keep its traditional spot on the final weekend, with medal presentations happening during the closing ceremony on July 30, 2028, back at the Coliseum—an Olympic tradition dating back to Athens 1896.
“Today’s announcement marks a proud milestone as the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum becomes the first venue in history to host three Olympic Games,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in a press release. “For over a century, the Coliseum has been home to some of the most iconic moments in sports history. That story continues in 2028.”
