The 2028 Summer Olympics will merge the present with the past as Los Angeles will become the first host city to incorporate two major stadiums into the opening ceremony, LA28 organizers revealed Thursday.
Not only will the legendary Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum become the first to play a part in three opening ceremonies, nearby SoFi Stadium in Inglewood also will play a role in the elaborate event scheduled for July 14, 2028.
Los Angeles also was host to the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics, with the Coliseum, just south of downtown, utilized in both years.
SoFi Stadium has been home to the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers since it opened in 2020. The venue already has played host to a Super Bowl (2022) and the College Football Playoff national championship game (2023).
The opening ceremony of the 2028 Paralympic Games will be held exclusively at SoFi Stadium on Aug. 15.
“The venues selected for the 2028 opening and closing ceremonies will highlight Los Angeles’ rich sporting history and cutting-edge future, showcasing the very best that LA has to offer on the world stage,” LA28 chair Casey Wasserman said in a statement. “These two extraordinary venues will create an unforgettable experience, welcoming fans from across the globe to an Olympic and Paralympic Games like never before and concluding what will go down as one of the most incredible Games in history.”
Details were not revealed for which venue will have the traditional components of the opening ceremony like the parade of athletes and the torch lighting, but the Coliseum does have a permanent torch that continues to be utilized during all events in the venue, which is best known as the current home for Southern California football.
While SoFi Stadium also will be the site for swimming competitions, the Coliseum will hold track and field events.
The closing ceremony for the Los Angeles Olympics will take place July 30 and be held exclusively at the Coliseum. The venue also will play host to the closing ceremony of the Paralympic Games on Aug. 27.
–Field Level Media
