LA28 is celebrating the official inclusion of surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing in the LA28 Olympic Games as the three iconic West Coast sports were approved to be part of the LA28 initial sports program by the International Olympic Committee.

LA28’s starting sports lineup offers a fresh take, blending new Olympic sports with fan favorites. Surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing are new to the initial sports program and join aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, canoe, cycling, equestrian, fencing, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, rowing, rugby, sailing, shooting, soccer, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, triathlon, volleyball and wrestling to round out the LA28 Olympic Games initial sports program.

“The LA28 Games have always been about bringing more freshness, youthful energy and creativity into the Olympic and Paralympic movement,” said LA28 Chairperson Casey Wasserman. “Los Angeles is a place unlike any other and it will be incredible to host surfing, skateboarding and climbing as iconic West Coast sports alongside Olympic fan favorites.”

Olympians Carissa Moore, Sky Brown and Nathaniel Coleman unveiled three new LA28 emblems. Built for the digital age, the LA28 emblem is dynamic and ever-evolving, inspired by the infinite stories Los Angeles and the Games represent.

Sky Brown’s LA28 design represents her playful personality and skateboarding experiences with a focus on her favorite spot at the iconic Venice Beach Skatepark.

“With my ‘A’, I want people to be inspired,” said Olympic bronze medalist and pro skateboarder Sky Brown. “It’s so easy to hold yourself back from trying something if it seems scary. I want my ‘A’ to help people believe in themselves and do what they love. Then, no one can stop you.”

Surf pro Carissa Moore featured the power and grace of the ocean in her ‘A’ design, with a nod to her hometown of Honolulu embodied in the beauty the plumeria, her favorite flower.

“One of the reasons why I love surfing so much is that the world we live in today is so fast paced and, in the ocean, you have to be present,” said Carissa Moore, Olympic gold medalist and professional surfer. “My goal is to inspire just one person, to spark their passion and try getting on a surfboard for the first time.”

Sport climber Nathaniel Coleman’s ‘A’ has a thoughtful balance of green pine trees representing his home mountain of Little Cottonwood, Utah on the left with the geometric shapes of indoor climbing on the right. In the center is a silhouette of a person contemplating which route to take.

“Sport climbing has taught me so much over the years, from complex problem solving to comradery and the devoted communities that are built because of it,” said Olympic silver medalist, Nathaniel Coleman. “It’s really validating for climbing to be embraced by the Olympics and I hope we’re able to translate that sense of local community to the global stage for fans at the LA28 Games.”

The full LA28 Olympic sports program will be finalized, in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee, by the end of 2023. LA28 has the opportunity to propose additional new sports to the program that would be additive to the initial sports program. The LA28 Paralympic sports program is determined at a later date by a process set by the International Paralympic Committee.