Olympics: Tokyo, Shanghai picked as qualifier venues for 2028 L.A. Games

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – The International Olympic Committee said Thursday that Tokyo and Shanghai have been picked among the qualifier venues for multiple urban sports in the run-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The other two cities set to host the Olympic Q-Series, formerly known as the Olympic Qualifier Series, are Montreal in Canada and Orlando in the U.S. state of Florida.

The urban sports programs for each city will be announced at a later date, the committee said. The six sports to be featured are 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, BMX freestyle, climbing, flag football and skateboarding.

Tokyo is scheduled to be the first stop, with qualifying events taking place from May 4 to 7, 2028, before the series moves to Shanghai a week later and the North American venues in June. The Summer Games are slated to begin in mid-July of that year.

The Japanese Olympic Committee has drawn up plans to use the Yoyogi Park area in central Tokyo for the events.

The Olympic Qualifier Series was introduced by the International Olympic Committee ahead of the 2024 Paris Games, with Shanghai and Budapest playing host.