Get ready for a groundbreaking moment in sports history! The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles are set to be the first Games ever to feature more female athletes than male athletes, as announced by the International Olympic Committee.

With a targeted quota of 10,500 athletes across 31 core sports—matching the numbers from the upcoming Paris Games—the LA28 will boost that total to 11,198. Even more exciting? A stunning 50.5% of those athletes will be women, marking a significant leap forward in gender equity in sports.

The IOC’s sport director, Kit McConell, pointed to the soaring demand for women's sports, particularly following Paris, where ticket sales for female events shattered records. He referred to this historic shift as 'a complete package' reflective of both participation and popularity.

In a first-ever move for the Olympics, the women’s soccer tournament will host 16 teams, outpacing the men’s competition, which will remain at 12 teams. This historic update comes after FIFA's longstanding policy that favored men’s sports.

This push for parity doesn’t stop at soccer; women will finally have equal representation in water polo and boxing, featuring the same number of teams and weight classes as their male counterparts. Water polo will see 12 teams for both genders, and boxing will offer seven weight classes for men and women alike.

The IOC has consistently championed gender equality, and the 2028 Games will not skimp on mixed-gender events, adding new opportunities in artistic gymnastics, track and field, golf, archery, table tennis, and coastal rowing—setting the stage for a record number of medal events.

Moreover, after the successful debut of the mixed-gender 4x400-meter relay at the Tokyo Olympics, LA28 will introduce a 4x100-meter mixed-gender relay and finalize new artistic gymnastics formats soon.

Swimmers will also enjoy expanded opportunities, with the addition of new 50-meter events for backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly, while climbing will feature more competitive categories than ever before.

The 3-on-3 basketball tournament will see its team count double from eight to 12 in both divisions, promising even more excitement!

As preparations gain momentum, the IOC has approved the LA28 venue master plan, emphasizing efficiency by using existing venues rather than building new facilities. However, negotiations for certain locations continue, with Santa Monica's beach volleyball becoming a point of contention.

Furthermore, Los Angeles city officials have approved moving certain sports outside the city to streamline operations, but some, like Councilmember Tim McOsker, are advocating for location changes to ensure local benefits.

In a show of support, politicians from Temecula and Riverside County are rallying to keep equestrian events at Galway Downs, urging Olympic officials to favor this site over building a new venue.

As the world gears up for LA28, the promise of unprecedented female participation in the Olympics shines brightly—heralding a new era of inclusivity and equality in sports!