The countdown to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games is already ticking, and two of its most anticipated sports are set to make a splash.
Historic Venues and Dates
Baseball will open its tournament at Dodger Stadium, the iconic Los Angeles landmark, just one day before the Opening Ceremony, while softball will be staged in Oklahoma City, a city long celebrated for its softball heritage.
Both sports carry a rich Olympic lineage. Baseball first entered the Games as a medal event at Barcelona 1992, and softball followed in Atlanta 1996, quickly becoming known for its fast‑paced, high‑energy contests.
The Tokyo 2020 Games underscored the global reach of these disciplines, with the baseball gold‑medal showdown between Japan and the United States drawing the largest live television audience of any sport in Japan during those Games.
Qualification Underway
Qualification pathways for LA28 are already in motion. The WBSC Women’s Softball World Group Lima, held in Peru, features teams from Japan, Puerto Rico, Great Britain, the Philippines, Venezuela and the host nation, all vying for a coveted Olympic berth.
Riccardo Fraccari, President of the World Baseball Softball Confederation, emphasized the unifying power of the sports, noting that their inclusion reflects a commitment to diversity and shared passion across continents.
Fans can look forward to a vibrant celebration of skill and competition, as the upcoming Games promise to blend tradition with the excitement of new generations of athletes.