OKC prepares to stage LA28 Olympic events, spotlighting softball and canoe slalom

This story originally ran on VeloCityOKC.com. 

Oklahoma City leaders are preparing for one of the biggest moments in the city’s history—staging official events for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.

During the Greater OKC Chamber’s June Forum, Team OKC President Michael Byrnes outlined how the city is preparing to welcome Olympic athletes, officials and fans for softball and canoe slalom competitions. With approximately 1,100 days until the Games begin, planning is well underway.

“Right now, our focus has been on understanding key priorities from each of our stakeholders, because that will shape how everything moves forward,” Byrnes said of both the national and international governing bodies and agencies needed to stage the two events.

Softball will take place at Devon Park, the largest softball stadium in the world, and is renowned for hosting the Women’s College World Series. Canoe slalom events will be staged at RIVERSPORT, which will be reconfigured into a full spectator venue for the Games. Combined, the two venues will host 26 competition sessions over 16 days.

Byrnes said OKC expects to welcome about 200 athletes and technical officials. While the final housing plan is still being determined, he confirmed no new construction will be needed, thanks to the city’s existing infrastructure.

Planning efforts include partnerships with LA28’s 49 functional departments, which oversee everything from competition logistics and security to transportation and broadcast operations. Burns said two LA28 delegations have already toured local venues and expressed confidence in OKC’s readiness.

The scale of the Games is significant. LA28 aims to double the number of athletes and venues from the 1984 Olympics, the last time Los Angeles served as host, with chair Casey Wasserman comparing the event to “seven Super Bowls a day for 30 days.”

Burns said one of the city’s goals is to extend the Olympic experience beyond ticketed events. Community activations, watch parties and potentially the Olympic torch relay are among the efforts being considered.

“Twenty years from now, we want people to be able to say they were a part of the Olympic experience—that they were able to experience what it meant to have one of the world’s biggest events in OKC,” Burns said.

Leading up to 2028, OKC will also host several international competitions, including the WBSC U-18 World Cup in 2025 and the International Canoe Federation’s World Championships in 2026. These events offer a chance to test operations, build momentum and strengthen relationships with international federations.

In addition to expanding the Team OKC staff, Burns said a local board of directors will guide efforts. He also expects to formalize a volunteer program that could require 1,000 to 1,200 volunteers per day during the Olympic events.

Burns emphasized that the planning process must consider both short-term execution and long-term impact.

“Legacy is a critical part of any Olympic host city,” Burns said. “After the Games are over, we’ll look at what they leave behind—whether that’s physical infrastructure, programs or new opportunities that arise from hosting these two events.”

Airport coordination, athlete transportation, youth outreach and hospitality sector involvement are all in the early planning stages. With OKC’s central location, Byrnes said he expects the city to attract fans from across the region who may not be able to travel to California.

“I want to make sure this delivers for our community,” Burns said. “I’m confident we’ll produce world-class events—our organizations and venues have the experience to do that. My focus is on the legacy—what this really means for everyone in our community, and how we uncover as many opportunities as possible.”