If you’re planning a trip to Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Olympics to catch every event live, think again—two major competitions won’t be in California at all. In a surprising twist, softball and canoe slalom will take place over 1,300 miles away in Oklahoma City.
Why Oklahoma City Is Hosting Olympic Events
Los Angeles organizers are delivering on their promise of a “no-build Olympics,” avoiding costly new construction by leveraging existing world-class facilities elsewhere. Enter Oklahoma City—a city with elite venues ready to host Olympic-level competition without breaking the bank.
“It would have been a massive effort, costing a tremendous amount of money, to replicate what is already here,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass after touring Oklahoma City’s Riversport OKC and Devon Park.
Olympic Venues: California vs. Oklahoma
- Canoe Slalom: Riversport OKC (Oklahoma City) – features artificial white-water rapids powered by massive pumps.
- Softball: Devon Park – the largest dedicated softball stadium in the U.S., home to the USA Softball Hall of Fame.
- Distance from L.A.: 1,327 miles—making it the farthest Olympic satellite site in modern U.S. history.
A Red State–Blue City Alliance
The collaboration also carries symbolic weight. Los Angeles, led by a Democratic mayor, and Oklahoma City, governed by a Republican, are putting politics aside for the Olympic spirit.
“We don’t have to agree on every issue, but we can stand shoulder to shoulder,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt during a recent signing ceremony with Mayor Bass.
2028 Olympic Event Locations Snapshot
| Sport | Venue | City | Distance from Downtown L.A. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canoe Slalom | Riversport OKC | Oklahoma City, OK | 1,327 miles |
| Softball | Devon Park | Oklahoma City, OK | 1,327 miles |
| Surfing | Trestles, San Clemente | San Clemente, CA | 64 miles |
| Volleyball | Anaheim Convention Center | Anaheim, CA | 30 miles |
[INTERNAL_LINK:Olympics 2028] planners say this satellite model isn’t new—Paris 2024 held surfing in Tahiti, and L.A.’s own 1984 Games staged soccer matches in Boston and Annapolis. But the Oklahoma partnership stands out for its bipartisan unity and fiscal pragmatism amid L.A.’s post-wildfire budget constraints.
