Australian Olympic Committee Launches Road to LA28 at SoFi Stadium

Three days after the record-breaking Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has officially launched its ‘Road to LA28’ at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

In just two years and five months’ time, the world’s eyes will be on LA for the 2028 Olympic Games before handing the Olympic Torch to Brisbane 2032. SoFi Stadium will host the Opening Ceremony followed by the swimming program during the second week, which is set to smash the Olympic attendance record for swimming with almost 40,000 fans.

Australia is expected to field its biggest ever away Team at LA28, with six sports added to the program – new sports Cricket, Lacrosse, Flag Football and Squash, with Baseball and Softball returning.

AOC President, Ian Chesterman said, “After an historic result by our winter athletes at the Milano Cortina Games, our focus now turns to LA28.

“A Games hosted in the USA will always be an immense spectacle, but entering LA28 with our largest ever away Team, off the back of record-breaking performances at Paris 2024, and the penultimate Games before Brisbane 2032, has all the ingredients to supercharge sport and inspire Australians.

“We celebrate a rivalry with the USA that is fierce in the pool, on the track and on the pitch — but represents sportsmanship and friendships that live beyond,” Chesterman said.

LA28 Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission, Anna Meares said, “Like so many Australians watching, cheering and supporting our greatest ever Winter Olympic Team in Milano Cortina, inspiration and aspiration has filled our cups as LA starts to take greater focus.

“Forty sports on the Olympic program means a potential Team size of 580 athletes, our biggest away Team ever.

“Los Angeles has successfully hosted the Olympic Games twice in 1932 and 1984. LA28 will showcase a mix of that history and the modern presentation of the Games and we Aussies can’t wait to bring our hearts, our character and spirit to the Games through our Olympians and member sports.

“This will be a Games to remember and a Team to remember.”

The AOC ‘Road to LA28’ event celebrates the long-standing “Friendly Rivalry” between Australian and US swimming, bringing together Olympic greats from across three decades.

Sydney 2000 heroes Ian Thorpe and Michael Klim reunited with US legend Gary Hall Jr. on the hallowed turf of SoFi Stadium in a nod to their iconic ‘Smashing Guitar’ moment — a symbol of fierce competition and enduring friendship.

Australia’s most decorated Olympian, Emma McKeon (Rio 2016; Tokyo 2020; Paris 2024) was inspired by Susie O’Neill during Sydney 2000. The pair joined the ‘Road to LA28’ celebration, reflecting on what a new generation of swimming will look like in front of almost 40,000 cheering fans.

Nine-time Olympic medallist, Ian Thorpe said, “The ‘Smashing Guitars’ moment that so many people remember around the world was completely spontaneous.

“It was just one of those things that happened, driven by raw emotion that you only find at the Olympic Games.

“But it also continued a special friendship which is into its third decade, representing mutual respect, support and empathy.

“It’s an incredibly proud moment for us to come together 26 years on from Sydney 2000, at such an iconic venue.

“Gary was telling us how proud he is to be a part of one of Australia’s most incredible sporting moments. That make me incredibly proud too. It epitomises the power of Olympic sport.”

On the sidelines of the G’Day USA program, the ‘Road to LA28’ celebrates a defining global sporting period for Australia. LA28 is book-ended by the 2026 FIFA World Cup in four months’ time, the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games in July 2032, and many more World Championships to be hosted in Australia.

Tourism Australia Managing Director, Robin Mack, said the Green and Gold Decade of sport will supercharge event related tourism in Australia.

“Australia is a nation that loves its sport and prides itself on hosting world-class sporting events. As LA28 looks to pass the baton to Brisbane 2032, Australia will be readying itself to invite the world to come and say G’day.

“For a destination like Australia, the significant tourism benefits of hosting international sporting events are two-fold. These events help to drive immediate visitation of international fans and supporters, who not only fill our stadiums but also get out and explore our Australian’s incredible destinations and tourism experiences when they are here.

“Then there is the longer-term legacy generated by the vast broadcast audiences these events attract, giving viewers a taste of Australia with stunning backdrops and the inspiration to visit our country in the future,” Mack said.

Australian Olympic Committee