Credited from: REUTERS
The 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games will utilize a comprehensive venue plan that spans multiple iconic locations, including downtown LA, Exposition Park, Venice Beach, and Long Beach, as laid out by LA28. This will allow for efficient use of the city's established sports infrastructure as competitions are set to take place from August 15-27, 2028, right after the Olympics, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.
Downtown LA will emerge as a crucial hub for several events, including wheelchair fencing, para judo, and para taekwondo, all taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This location will foster a festival-like atmosphere that promotes shared engagement among fans, as noted by LA28, according to Le Monde, Channel News Asia, and Reuters.
In addition to the Convention Center, wheelchair basketball will take place at Crypto.com Arena while the neighboring Peacock Theater is designated for goalball, which requires total silence from the audience. The LA Memorial Coliseum will play host to para athletics and the closing ceremony of the event. Such diverse venues aim to highlight the festival-like nature of the Paralympics, according to Le Monde.
With all competition venues located within a compact 35-mile radius, LA28 aims to reduce travel times for athletes residing at the Paralympic Village, which will be based on UCLA's campus. This arrangement is significant as it allows for athletes across all sports to be housed together for the first time since Rio 2016, a move welcomed by the International Paralympic Committee, as highlighted by Channel News Asia, Reuters, and Le Monde.
Adding to the excitement, Long Beach will be the site for para swimming and blind football, as well as the debut of para climbing, which includes both men's and women's events. This detailed venue plan signifies LA28's commitment to creating an athlete-friendly environment while also enhancing overall fan engagement, according to Reuters and Le Monde.