In a historic shift for the Olympics, track and field athletics will take place during the first week of the 2028 Los Angeles Games, marking a significant change from the traditional schedule.
This change is seen as a strategic move to elevate the profile of athletics and engage global audiences right from the start of the Games.
“We are excited to support this visionary timetable change for LA28,” said World Athletics president Seb Coe. “This change underscores our commitment to innovation in athletics and elevating the global profile of our athletes. By prioritizing athletics in the first week, the Games will witness the most thrilling of starts, captivating audiences worldwide and setting the stage for an unforgettable Olympic journey for global audiences.”
In previous Olympics, athletics events typically occurred in the second week. For instance, during the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, when Seb Coe won gold in the 1500m and silver in the 800m, the athletics events began on August 3, following the July 28 opening ceremony. Similarly, the London 2012 Olympics had athletics running from August 3-12, after the July 27 opening ceremony.
Enhance pre-Games promotion and view
World Athletics and LA28 believe this schedule adjustment, which moves swimming events to the second week, will enhance pre-Games promotion and viewership during the Games. The marathon races, however, will still take place at the end of the Games, maintaining tradition.
“The first-week scheduling positions athletics at the forefront of the Games, ensuring a strong start and sustained excitement throughout the event,” World Athletics noted. “The historic marathon events will remain over the last weekend, with medals presented during the closing ceremony – a tradition that befits an event that has been part of the programme since the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.”
Janet Evans, chief athlete officer of LA28, highlighted the collaborative efforts that led to this decision. “Over the past months, LA28 has worked closely with World Athletics, World Aquatics, the IOC, and OBS to assess the opportunities around this competition schedule swap. We believe the positive effects of this change will extend beyond the two sports involved, strengthening the LA28 Games as a whole and ultimately benefiting all sports in the LA28 sport programme.”
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will be held from July 14-30, 2028, marking the third time the city will host the Olympics, following the 1932 and 1984 Games.
