LA28 celebrates 1,000 days to go with youth sports and Olympians

21 October 2025 – Marking 1,000 days to go until the LA28 Olympic Games begin, celebrations in the host city of Los Angeles and venue city of Oklahoma City brought people together through youth sports and local engagement – reflecting the ambition to engage and inspire communities across the United States.

From Venice Beach to Oklahoma City, children and families joined Olympians and Paralympians for sports clinics, demonstrations and community activities – showcasing the joy, unity and inspiration that the Games bring.

Los Angeles

In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass unveiled her “Games for All” vision, setting out how the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games can help transform the city for the better, with new opportunities for young people, sustainable infrastructure and community legacy projects. Games for All highlights four key pillars: youth sport, accessibility, business opportunity and sustainability.

The initiative builds on the city’s PlayLA youth sports programme, which has already received USD 160 million in funding from LA28 and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The programme provides low-cost youth and adaptive sports opportunities to millions of young people across Los Angeles, ensuring that they can access the life-changing power of sport.

Surrounded by local families and young athletes at Venice Beach – which will host triathlon events and the first medal ceremony of the Games – Mayor Bass described LA28 as “an opportunity to reimagine our infrastructure, strengthen community resilience and expand opportunity for all Angelenos”.

“This is my vision for the 2028 Games – an LA made better for all Angelenos,” she said, signing a new executive directive to streamline city operations and accelerate key projects ahead of the Games, through the city’s Office of Major Events. “LA will shine on the world stage.”

Oklahoma

A few days later, in Oklahoma City, the countdown reached the heartland. LA28 Chair and President Casey Wasserman and CEO Reynold Hoover joined Mayor David Holt and local officials to mark 1,000 days to go – and to celebrate Oklahoma City’s role in hosting Olympic softball and canoe slalom events. Olympians such as Nadia Comăneci, Bart Conner and Michelle Moultrie were also present.

Speaking at the event, Wasserman said: “The LA28 Olympic Games will bridge regions and communities from the Pacific coast in Los Angeles to the central plains of Oklahoma City through the power of sport, highlighting their unique sporting legacies and incredible world-class venues.”

Over the weekend, Games organisers joined youth athletes for sports clinics at Scissortail Park. They also visited Oklahoma City’s Softball Park and Whitewater Center, which will host Olympic competitions in 2028.

These activities across the two cities reinforced a shared message: the LA28 Games will not only showcase world-class sports competition; they will also deliver lasting benefits for communities and future generations.

The LA28 Olympic Games will take place from 14 to 30 July 2028, followed by the Paralympic Games, which will be held from 15 to 27 August.