IOC launches war on Trump’s anti-DEI policies for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
An advertising banner for the LA 2028 Olympics showcasing the Olympic rings, set against a blue backdrop with a green fence at the bottom, accessed on April 10, 2025. (Photo via Adobe Stock)
The International Olympic Committee announced on Wednesday that gender equality will be a central focus of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
For the first time, the event’s program and athlete quotas will ensure that all team sports feature an equal number of women’s and men’s teams.
Out of the 10,500 athlete spots, 5,333 are allocated for women, while 5,167 are designated for men.
In another historic move, football, one of the most popular sports at the Summer Games, will include 16 women’s teams, surpassing the 12 men’s teams.
Gender parity is also being prioritized in sports like boxing, water polo, and mixed events such as archery, athletics, golf, gymnastics and table tennis.
This announcement comes amid the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to limit diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the U.S.
New format for medal events
The 2028 Olympics will also expand the number of medal events to 351 – 22 more than at Paris 2024.
New swimming and rowing competitions are expected to draw fresh interest, while boulder and lead sport climbing will now be contested as separate medal events.
Basketball 3×3, which debuted at Tokyo 2020, will expand from 16 to 24 teams. However, breakdancing will not be returning in the 2028 games.
The 2028 Summer Olympics will take place in Los Angeles on July 14-30. Brisbane, Australia, is set to host the 2032 edition.
