U.S. Cities to Host Olympic Q-Series Events Ahead of LA28 Games

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (TXAN 24) — The United States is set to play a major role in the road to the 2028 Summer Olympics after the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced Orlando will host part of the expanded Olympic Q-Series qualifying events for LA28.

The newly expanded series will feature six sports popular with younger audiences and growing rapidly across the U.S., including 3x3 basketball, beach volleyball, BMX freestyle, flag football, skateboarding and sport climbing. The Q-Series will also make stops in Tokyo, Shanghai and Montreal before concluding in Orlando.

American officials say the expanded format is designed to build excitement leading into the Los Angeles Olympics while giving athletes additional opportunities to qualify on an international stage. Flag football’s inclusion is also expected to generate major interest in the United States after the sport was officially added to the LA28 Olympic program.

The Olympic Q-Series debuted prior to the Paris 2024 Olympics, but organizers believe the larger global circuit will further connect Olympic sports with younger fans and urban sports culture.

The 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles will mark the first Summer Games held in the United States since Atlanta hosted in 1996.