LA28 Day of Sport Brings Olympic and Paralympic Spirit to More Than 13,000 Youth Across the Country

LA28's pre-Games youth sports initiative reaches 180 sites across the Host City, Venue Cities, Oklahoma City and cities staging Football (Soccer) Tournament matches during week-long celebration of National Olympic and Paralympic Day

Los Angeles (June 23, 2026) — With just over two years until the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, more than 13,000 young athletes participated in LA28’s Day of Sport, a celebration tied to National Olympic and Paralympic Day, recognized annually on June 23. The events marked the highest participation rate since the event’s inception in 2023.

“LA28’s Day of Sport going national reflects the growing excitement across the country as we prepare for the Olympic and Paralympic Games to return to the U.S. in just two years,” said Janet Evans, LA28 Chief Athlete Officer. “Empowering young people to experience the joy and power of sport, learn about the Games, and connect with Olympians and Paralympians is exactly what LA28 is all about. Moments like these can spark new dreams in young athletes through the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements.”

“Investing in our youth and expanding access to sports is a top priority as we prepare to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “LA28’s Day of Sport and programs like PlayLA have played an important role in empowering the next generation of athletes and ensuring that children in every neighborhood have the opportunity to learn, grow and build confidence through the power of sport.”

LA28 coordinated with more than 30 community organizations to bring Olympic- and Paralympic-themed activities to 180 sites across the country. This includes 120 PlayLA sites in Los Angeles, along with Venue Cities such as Carson, Inglewood, Long Beach, Pasadena, Pomona, Arcadia and Anaheim. For the first time, events are also taking place in Oklahoma City, Okla., and several cities holding matches for the LA28 Olympic Football (Soccer) Tournaments including Nashville, Tenn.; Columbus, Ohio; and San José, Calif.

The Salvation Army’s LA Red Shield Community Center, located in Pico-Union, just west of Downtown Los Angeles, was one of many sites to participate in LA28’s Day of Sport. LA28 Chief Athlete Officer, Janet Evans joined more than 200 young athletes alongside Olympians Nadia Comaneci, Bart Conner, Reginald Jagers, Nick Itkin and Mariah Bell, and Paralympians Jamal Hill and Ileana Rodriguez.

The celebration began with a Parade of Nations and Opening Ceremony before participants rotated through sport activations including Basketball, Flag Football, Football (Soccer), Athletics (Track & Field), Para Swimming, and Water Polo. The day concluded with a Closing Ceremony recognizing select young athletes with commemorative medals inspired by Olympic and Paralympic values of determination, inspiration, courage, friendship, excellence, respect and equality. Each participant also received gifts, including a soccer ball or football, LA28-branded Nike T-shirt and a swim cap provided by DICK’S Sporting Goods, LA28’s Official Sporting Goods Retail Provider.

Similar Day of Sport activities were held at partner community organizations’ summer camps, including YMCA Metro LA, Science of Sport, Angel City Sports, Los Angeles Cricket, Southern California Youth Cricket Academy, American Heart Association, Shoes That Fit and RiverSport in Oklahoma City.

By connecting young athletes with Olympians and Paralympians and inspiring participation across a broad range of sports and adaptive sports, Day of Sport advances LA28’s commitment to expanding youth sports access, as outlined in LA28’s Impact and Sustainability Plan. LA28's commitment to youth sports is anchored by PlayLA, a city of Los Angeles youth sports initiative focused on providing high-quality, affordable programming for children of all abilities ahead of the 2028 Games. Supported by LA28 and the International Olympic Committee’s $160 million investment in Los Angeles communities, PlayLA represents California’s largest commitment to youth sport development and is delivered through the LA Recreation and Parks Department.

Outside of the U.S., June 23 marks International Olympic Day, a global celebration of the Olympic Movement and the power of sport bringing people together. This year, the International Olympic Committee is activating its Let’s Move campaign under the theme “You Can Do This,” encouraging young people around the world to take the first step toward participating in sport. The message reinforces the spirit of LA28’s Day of Sport by emphasizing that everyone, regardless of experience or ability, can find a way to participate and be inspired through sport.

LA28 Day of Sport celebrations will continue throughout the week.

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