The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games has proposed the relocation of diving to the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center in Pasadena and asked for approval from the Los Angeles City Council on the decision.

The venue plan for LA28 had diving being held at the 1932 Pool in the Exposition Park Zone. LA28 says the potential move would achieve up to $17.6 million in combined savings and revenue growth. Any changes to the venue proposal for LA28 must be approved by the city.

LA28 said in its proposal to the City Council that the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center offers an existing pool that meets Olympic diving standards and requires fewer improvements to host diving in 2028.

It also said in the proposal that World Aquatics told organizers that the Exposition Park outdoor pool did not meet Olympic diving standards. The pool in Exposition Park, located next to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, was constructed for the 1932 Games and hosted diving, swimming, water polo and the swim event for the modern pentathlon.

LA28 said in its proposal to City Council that the venue “would require a complete reconstruction in order to meet Olympic standards. Futhermore, this construction cannot occur simultaneously with the LA Memorial Coliseum track construction projects due to limited space within the surrounding footprint.”

“This presents a significant opportunity to deliver successful marquee events, with greater budget certainty, while also ensuring an exceptional competition venue for our diving athletes, with their safety remaining our top priority,” said Reynold Hoover, LA28 chief executive officer. “The decision to stage diving at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center is beneficial on all fronts and we’re grateful to our host city and venue city partners for their unwavering support and collaboration as we finalize the 2028 Games plan.”

Four U.S. House representatives have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at upgrading the U.S. State Department’s sports diplomacy efforts before some of the largest events in the world come to the country, and to take advantage of the impact those events can have on other diplomatic fronts. The American Decade of Sports Act was put forth by Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, a Democrat from California, Bill Huizenga, a Republican from Michigan, Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York, and Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas.

The United States will be home to some of the largest sports events in the world over the next 10 years, beginning with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in 11 U.S. cities. Other major events on the horizon include the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games in Los Angeles, the 2029 World University Games in North Carolina, the 2031 Men’s and 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup, and the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. The U.S. is also the only bidder for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

In announcing the bill, the political leaders noted that the events present a unique opportunity to enhance U.S. diplomacy and global leadership on the world stage. The bill seeks to upgrade the State Department’s sports diplomacy division to its own office and designate it with the responsibility and personnel to implement U.S. sports diplomacy efforts focused on the decade ahead.

“As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible power of sports to break down cultural barriers and unite people around the world,” said Kamlager-Dove. “The American Decade of Sports is our chance to deepen relationships across the globe and cement U.S. leadership — and we can’t let it slip through our fingers. I’m proud to lead the introduction of this bipartisan legislation to ensure that the State Department is equipped to leverage sports diplomacy as a vital U.S. foreign policy tool and capitalize on this defining moment.”
“From the Ryder Cup to the FIFA World Cup and the upcoming Summer and Winter Olympic Games, the United States is set to host some of the most highly viewed, attended, and anticipated international sporting events in the next 10 years,” said Huizenga. “The American Decade of Sports Act ensures that President Trump is able to carry out his revitalization of American sports and that the State Department is readily equipped to implement this newfound focus in terms of strategic planning and staffing. I am proud to champion this bipartisan effort.”

Specifically, the American Decade of Sports Act:

• Directs the State Department to submit a sports diplomacy strategy to leverage the major sporting events being hosted in the United States to enhance U.S. soft power and global leadership;
• Pulls the Sports Diplomacy Division out of the Office of Citizen Exchanges and elevates it to its own Office of Sports Diplomacy;
• Designates the Office of Sports Diplomacy with the responsibility of implementing the mega-decade sports diplomacy strategy;
• Assigns at least three additional staff to the office to implement the strategy; and
• Requires an annual report to Congress on the implementation of the mega-decade sports diplomacy strategy, the restructuring of the sports diplomacy office, and the designation of additional staff to carry out the strategy.

The American Decade of Sports Act is cosponsored by Reps. Bill Huizenga, Gregory Meeks, Michael McCaul, James Moylan, Maria Elvira Salazar, Michael Lawler, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Ted Lieu, Dina Titus, Gabe Amo, Kathy Castor, Sarah McBride, Jonathan L. Jackson, Nikema Williams, Hank Johnson, Don Bacon, Michael Baumgartner, Aumua Amata Radewagen, Buddy Carter, Young Kim, Rich McCormick, William R. Keating, and Greg Stanton.

]]> 74964https://media.sportstravelmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/25134347/AP25234631812238-scaled.jpg https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/usa-artistc-swimming-partners-with-igarden/ Mon, 25 Aug 2025 12:53:26 +0000 https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/?p=74955

Swimming pools for the nation’s top aquatic athletes need to be as clean as possible. And a new partnership between USA Artistic Swimming and iGarden, makers of pool cleaning equipment, appears to be an ideal match.

USA Artistic Swimming has announced the new partnership with iGarden, a subsidiary of Fairland Group, including a live demonstration recently held in California for a select crowd of Olympians and media. The agreement also makes the brand the exclusive robotic pool cleaner partner of the national governing body.

Related Stories

• LA28 Proposes Moving Diving Event to Pasadena
• Bill Introduced to Improve U.S. Sports Diplomacy
• USA Artistic Swimming Partners with iGarden
• LA28 Basketball Tournament to Start Before Opening Ceremony
• New Members Named to USOPC Collegiate Advisory Council

“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome iGarden into the USA Artistic Swimming family” said USA Artistic Swimming CEO Adam Andrasko. “Their forward-thinking vision and dedication to excellence mirror the true heart of USA Artistic Swimming.”

Guests at the announcement included Andrasko, Chief of Sport (and three time Olympian) Lara Teixeria, Olympic silver medalist Daniella Ramirez, and 2025 national team members Elle Santana, Emma Moore, Kamako Field, Morgan Woelfel, and Valerie Wiliams). Former Olympian Lenny Krayzelburg (four-time gold medalist and founder of SwimRight Academy) was also in attendance.

The company displayed products at the event and also announced its Pool Perfection Experience: a fully immersive, in-home product trial campaign available across California where pool owners can try the company’s products for free.

“iGarden has always been at the forefront of revolutionizing outdoor living” said Wind Gong, iGarden chief marketing officer, “Partnering with USA Artistic Swimming is a continuation of our brand growth and dedication to expanding our partnership horizons. As a brand of artful living, it was only natural to choose a team that emulates that.”

]]> 74955https://media.sportstravelmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/10032329/USA-Artistic-Swimming-Crop.jpg https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/la28-basketball-tournament-to-start-before-opening-ceremony/ Thu, 21 Aug 2025 11:00:36 +0000 https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/?p=74875

Basketball at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles will start two days before the opening ceremony for those Games, FIBA said on Wednesday in a news release. FIBA said it has reviewed a revised schedule for LA28 and that games will begin on July 12, 2028, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood — […]]]>

Basketball at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles will start two days before the opening ceremony for those Games, FIBA said on Wednesday in a news release.

FIBA said it has reviewed a revised schedule for LA28 and that games will begin on July 12, 2028, at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood — ahead of the July 14 Opening Ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium.

Related Stories

• LA28 Basketball Tournament to Start Before Opening Ceremony
• LA28 to Implement Naming Rights at Competition Venues
• World Aquatics, NBC Sports Extend U.S. Media Rights Agreement Through 2028
• USA Track & Field in Planning Mode for 2028 Olympic Marathon Trials
• Jason Rizzi Named USA Triathlon Foundation Chief Development Officer

“This adjustment allows the quarterfinals to be played over two days and will also ensure that no game will start earlier than (noon), enhancing the overall experience for players, teams, fans and broadcasters,” FIBA said in a news release.

It is unclear if the men’s tournament, the women’s tournament or both will start before the Opening Ceremony. A preliminary schedule released last month calls for three basketball games on July 12 and three more on July 13.

Bronze-medal games will be played on July 28 and 29 and gold-medal games will occur on July 29 and 30. July 30 is the final day of the Games.

Several other sports also are scheduled to start before the Opening Ceremony, including field hockey, rugby sevens, water polo, handball, cricket and soccer. The canoe slalom competition in Oklahoma City is expected to start in the morning of July 14, hours before the opening ceremony later that day about 1,200 miles away.

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Robin Harris, Grace Latz and Sydney Barta will join the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s Collegiate Advisory Council  as new members.

Harris, executive director at the Ivy League, joins the council after at the 2024 Olympic Summer Games, the Ivy League had the fourth-most athletes on Team USA with 51 athletes across 12 sports. As an Olympian, USRowing board member, chair of the USRowing Athlete Council, Team USA Athletes’ Commission alternate and former collegiate rower at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Latz brings a wealth of experience from both the Team USA and collegiate systems. Barta, the first Paralympian on the Stanford track and field roster and Paralympic representative on the Team USA Athletes’ Commission, is a 2024 World Para Athletics Championships silver medalist and a six-time Parapan American Games medalist.

“The connection between college athletics and the Olympic and Paralympic movements has never been more vital,” said USOPC Chief Executive Officer Sarah Hirshland. “Many of Team USA’s most successful and promising athletes come from the collegiate sports system, and the guidance of collegiate leaders is essential to Team USA’s growth and success. We’re excited to welcome Robin, Grace and Sydney to the Collegiate Advisory Council – their deep commitment to student-athletes and Olympic and Paralympic sport will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen this important partnership.”

Harris, Latz and Barta will begin their appointments at the council’s annual meeting at the Women Leaders in Sports national convention this fall.  Harris will replace Scott Stricklin, Latz will replace Chaunté Lowe and Barta will replace Jessica Heims, who have all completed their terms. The 12-member council will be comprised of:

• Bernard Muir (USOPC CAC chair)
• Sydney Barta (Stanford University)
• Greg Byrne (University of Alabama)
• Jen Cohen (University of Southern California)
• Lauren Crandall (Wake Forest University)
• Bubba Cunningham (University of North Carolina/USOPC board representative)
• Mark Harlan (University of Utah)
• Robin Harris (The Ivy League)
• Grace Latz (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
• Rob Mullens (University of Oregon)
• Jamie Pollard (Iowa State University)
• Kendall Spencer (University of New Mexico)

Rob Stull was elected president of the International Modern Pentathlon Union in November 2024, a four-year tenure that includes the 2028 Olympic Summer Games in Los Angeles. Stull was an alternate to the 1984 U.S. Olympic modern pentathlon team, competed in both fencing and modern pentathlon at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, then competed in modern pentathlon at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Starting at the LA28 Games, modern pentathlon will replace equestrian riding with obstacle racing after a long process that took several years. Modern pentathlon is a five-sport event that, for 2028, will include fencing, freestyle swimming, obstacle course racing, laser pistol shooting and cross-country running. We discussed the lead-up to LA28, Stull’s work at the international federation since being elected president and much more. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

This episode is sponsored by

For the first time in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, LA28 will implement naming rights at competition venues for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Comcast Squash Center at Universal Studios and Honda Center have been announced as the first branded venues for the LA28 Games.

“From the moment we submitted our bid, LA28 committed to reimagining what’s possible for the Games,” said Casey Wasserman, LA28 chairperson and president. “Today’s historic announcement delivers on that promise, creating the first-ever venue naming rights program in Olympic and Paralympic history while advancing LA28’s mission of a fully privately funded and no-new-build Games. These groundbreaking partnerships with Comcast and Honda, along with additional partners to come, will not only generate critical revenue for LA28 but will introduce a new commercial model to benefit the entire Movement. We’re grateful to the IOC for making this transformation possible.”

Today’s announcement unlocks an additional revenue stream for LA28 and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Properties, the commercial joint venture between LA28 and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Under the new pilot program, qualifying LA28 partners will have the opportunity to keep existing venue naming rights during Games time, as well as secure additional marketing assets to bolster their activation efforts.

Additionally, the opportunity for naming rights of up to 19 temporary venues will become available to worldwide Olympic & Paralympic Games partners and LA28 partners. Outside of naming rights partners, standard clean venue Games policies will still apply.

Comcast Squash Center at Universal Studios will host squash’s Olympic Games debut at Courthouse Square — one of Hollywood’s most recognizable working studio lots. Peacock Theater will host boxing and weightlifting during the Olympic Games and goalball during the Paralympic Games.

“The Olympic Games Paris 2024 reminded us that the power of sport can inspire the world. We’re honored to work with LA28 to help bring the most spectacular summer Olympic and Paralympic Games to the U.S. for the first time in more than 30 years,” said Jennifer Khoury, chief communications officer, Comcast Corporation.

As the first-ever arena to retain its name during the Olympic Games, Honda Center in Anaheim will host the competition and fan experience for Olympic volleyball.

“As a founding partner of LA28, Honda is immensely proud that a world-class sports and entertainment venue like Honda Center will step onto the international stage to power Olympic dreams at the highest level,” said Ed Beadle, vice president of digital services and marketing, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

For the third consecutive Olympic cycle, the 026 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Long Track will be staged at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee.

The trials, which will be held January 2–5, 2026, will feature the nation’s top skaters competing for spots to represent Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, taking place a month later in Milan.

“We are incredibly excited to have the city of Milwaukee and the Pettit National Ice Center host the 2026 U.S. Olympic Trials – Long Track Speedskating,” said Ted Morris, executive director for US Speedskating. “This marks the third consecutive Olympic Trials held at the Pettit. Over the last two Olympic Trials, we had a sold-out venue, incredible enthusiasm from the local community and exciting racing from the skaters. We look forward to similar success next January.”

The Pettit National Ice Center has been a dedicated training site for speed skating since it opened in 1992. In addition to the 2018 and 2022 Olympic Team Trials, the venue has hosted several World Cup qualifying events,and an ISU World Cup in 2025. The center hosts more than 425,000 visitors annually for ice skating, figure skating, hockey and other sport activities.

“We’re honored to welcome the nation’s top speed skaters and fans back again to the Pettit for the 2026 US Olympic Trials Long Track,” said Paul Golomski, general manager of the PNIC. “Hosting this event for the third consecutive Olympic cycle is a testament to the passion of our community, the dedication of our staff and volunteers, and the world-class legacy of our facility. There’s nothing quite like the energy in this building when Olympic dreams are on the line and we can’t wait to share that excitement with Milwaukee and the entire country.”

The U.S. Travel Association has launched America’s Sports and Travel Mega Event Coalition (ASTMEC), a national alliance of sports, travel and business leaders dedicated to helping the United States successfully host the collection of global sporting events headed to the United States over the next decade.

ASTMEC is expected to work in close partnership with the Trump administration to ensure that necessary policies, infrastructure and security systems are in place to support those events, which include the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games.

The move comes as the White House has shown increased interest playing a key role in those sports events while also enacting policies that could potentially hinder international fan travel to events. Among those is a $250 “visa integrity fee” that international visitors will soon have to pay to enter the United States. Host cities have also been monitoring the latest issues around fan travel as they plan to host visitors from around the world.

“The Trump administration’s launch of the White House Task Force on the 2028 Summer Olympics lays critical groundwork for a historic decade of global sports,” said Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Travel Association. “This is another opportunity for the U.S. to demonstrate its leadership on the world stage. Hosting these events will bring global attention and millions of visitors to our cities—but momentum isn’t enough. Success demands strategy, unity and investment. We urge the White House Task Force to press Congress to scrap the misguided $250 junk fee that will deter legitimate visitors. ASTMEC is ready to partner with federal and local leaders to deliver a secure, seamless experience and a legacy that lasts.”

U.S. Travel estimates that an estimated 30 million international visitors will be coming for major sporting events. In addition to the World Cup and Olympic and Paralympic Games, the United States will host the 2029 World University Games, the 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup, the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup and the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The U.S. is also the only bidder for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

USA Gymnastics’ top events will continue to get an audience on NBC Sports, through 2032.

The national governing body and the network announced the historic renewal on the cusp of the organization’s national championships in New Orleans. Under terms of the deal, NBC and Peacock will continue to present coverage of USA Gymnastics’ most high-profile artistic gymnastics events through 2032.

“We are proud to extend our partnership with NBC Sports and to expand coverage of gymnastics over the next eight years,” USA Gymnastics President and CEO Li Li Leung said. “No broadcaster better elevates the compelling stories of athletes on their Olympic journeys. We look forward to collaborating on bringing gymnastics to the American fan base in exciting new ways.”
NBC Sports also will produce a special selection show for USA Gymnastics women’s team rosters for Artistic World Championship competitions each non-Summer Olympic year. The extension marks the longest contract extension between NBC and an NGB announced since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. NBC Sports has agreed to media rights extensions with USA Track & Field, USA Swimming and World Aquatics.

“Working with our fantastic partners at USA Gymnastics, together we’re bringing innovative ideas and programs to our coverage and expanding the ways we can reach gymnastics fans and new audiences alike through access and storytelling,” said Joe Gesue, senior vice president of Olympic programming and planning for NBC Sports. “Gymnastics has long been a cornerstone of our Olympic coverage driven by the tremendous success of the athletes of Team USA, and we can’t wait to showcase their journeys to LA28 and beyond.”

NBCUniversal controls the U.S. media rights to the Olympic Games through 2036, which are scheduled for Italy, (2026), Los Angeles (2028), the French Alps (2030), Brisbane, Australia (2032), Salt Lake City (2034) and the 2036 Summer Olympics, whose host has not yet been determined.