Paris 2024 ends, hands Olympic Flag to Los Angeles 2028: Countdown starts for baseball/softball
The countdown has started for Los Angeles, where baseball and softball will feature again on sports' biggest stage.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games concluded in spectacular fashion on Sunday with an emotive Closing Ceremony at the Stade de France, handing over the Olympic Flag to the LA28 Olympic Games. The countdown has started for Los Angeles, where baseball and softball will make their return to the sports' biggest stage.
"Dear French friends, you have fallen in love with the Olympic Games. And we have fallen in love with all of you. Thank you Paris, thank you France!" said International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach during the Closing Ceremony. "I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in Los Angeles, United States of America, to celebrate with all of us the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad."
The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games unveiled a custom emblem for the occasion, honouring the spirit of two iconic host cities, present and future. The custom animated mark features a flag flowing from France to the United States, celebrating the ceremonial moment this summer in which Los Angeles becomes the next host city of the Olympic Games for the third time in its history.
Los Angeles 2028, which is set to open on 14 July 2028, will mark baseball/softball's return to the Olympic Programme having last featured at Tokyo 2020.
“We are delighted that baseball and softball have been confirmed as part of the sports programme at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 by the IOC Session," WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said last year when baseball/softball was included as one of the five additional sports. “The WBSC firmly believes that baseball and softball will help millions of fans engage with the Olympic Games, especially with USA being home to many of the sports’ best players and biggest stars from across the world."
At Tokyo 2020, the baseball gold medal game was Japan's most watched sports event of the entire Olympics, wit 37% final rating and a 44% peak rating.
Baseball will make its seventh appearance in the Olympic Games official programme, after making its historic debut in Barcelona 1992. Since then, baseball successfully appeared in Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and Tokyo 2020.
For softball, the Los Angeles 2028 Games will represent its sixth Olympic presence, making its debut precisely in the US with the Atlanta 1996 Games, followed by memorable tournaments at Sydney, Athens, Beijing and Tokyo.
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games announced recently that the 13,000 capacity Softball Park in Oklahoma City, widely heralded as the sport’s best venue, will host the softball competition. “Hosting the Games in Oklahoma City extends the Olympic spirit beyond Los Angeles, bringing the festivities to the heart of America’s softball community," WBSC President Fraccari mentioned. "This venue selection not only celebrates the sport’s roots but also engages a broader audience, fostering a nationwide Olympic atmosphere."
