Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Olympics
Josh Lawless
Key details surrounding the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles have emerged, including which medal will be handed out the first.
The showpiece takes place in LA in three years, with 15 million visitors expected to attend 844 ticketed events across 50 venues.
LA have hosted the Olympics twice before, in 1932 and 1984, and it has been confirmed that the iconic Memorial Coliseum will once again host the action for a third time.
Though there is still plenty of time before things get underway, it had already been confirmed that softball and baseball, cricket and lacrosse would be returning for the Games - as well as flag football, a variant of American football, and squash being added by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) for the first time.
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But the preliminary calendar has been released, following approval from Olympic Broadcasting Services and the IOC board.
The mandatory opening ceremony will take place on Friday 14 July 2028 at the SoFi (2028) Stadium and Memorial Coliseum, which will also play host to the athletics events during the first week after swapping places with swimming.
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However, it has been confirmed that the very first medal will be awarded on Saturday 15 July at Venice Beach, which will stage the triathlon - the multi-sport endurance event made up of a 1.5km swim, a 40km bike ride and 10km run to finish off.
The 15th day of the Games on Saturday 29 July will be the busiest in terms of medals, with 16 gold and bronze team matches and finals in 19 individual sports taking place a day before proceedings wrap up with swimming the following day at the 2028 Stadium in Inglewood.
The closing ceremony will occur on Sunday 30 July as the torch is passed to Brisbane.
While the City of Angels is hosting for a third time, one sport will be taking place in a completely different location. Softball, a variation of baseball but with a large ball, is making its return and will do so at the 13,000 capacity Softball Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City, which is more than 1000 miles away.
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"It's the home of USA Softball; it's double decker seating; it's a true softball field, whereas in times in the past we've had to play in baseball stadiums," Monica Abbott, a two-time silver medallist, explained to Olympics.com on the decision.
In its most recent appearance, Japan claimed gold in softball at the Tokyo Olympics.