Orlando Officially Enters Host City Candidate Process for Olympic Qualifier Series 2028

IOC expands successful Olympic Qualifier Series as part of lead up to LA 2028 Olympic Games

ORLANDO, FL (Feb. 25, 2026) The Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports), alongside partners at the City of Orlando, Orlando Venues, Camping World Stadium, Orange County, Visit Orlando, and the State of Florida, are proud to announce that Orlando is a candidate to host the final stop in the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) 2028 leading up to the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

The Olympic Qualifier Series 2028 is a six-sport event that was launched by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2024. It marked a historic milestone as the first-ever Olympic qualification event held in a fully Olympic-branded environment, leveraging the power of the Olympic brand to elevate athletes’ visibility and showcase their journeys on the road to the Olympic Games.

In its inaugural edition, the two-stop series in Shanghai and Budapest brought together the best athletes from BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding, and climbing, representing 55 countries from all continents. A total of 158 athletes ultimately secured their qualification spots just one month before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. More than 100,000 spectators attended across the two stops, proving to be especially popular among younger audiences, with 30 per cent of spectators in Shanghai aged under 18. The Series also garnered significant global media attention, with media rights holders in 128 territories broadcasting the events via television and over-the-top (OTT) platforms and more than 9,000 articles published and widespread social media engagement.

Building on the success of 2024, the OQS is set to expand its format for 2028, featuring more sports and a third stop. In addition to BMX freestyle, skateboarding and climbing, three new sports will be introduced: 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, and flag football. Between April and June 2028, the Series will land in the heart of three vibrant cities, each hosting a four-day celebration of sport, arts, and youth culture.

Orlando has a long history of hosting U.S. Olympic and Paralympic sporting events and is looking to build on the broad commitment of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee and U.S. host communities prepared to welcome the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Los Angeles in 2028 and Utah in 2034.

In 2024, Orlando hosted the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon, which saw six elite runners qualify to represent Team USA in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as more than 100,000 fans lined the streets of downtown Orlando to cheer them on. Lake County’s National Training Center also hosted the UANA Olympic Swimming Qualifier in 2021, where athletes from more than 50 countries competed for a spot at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

In addition, Orlando has partnered with the following national governing bodies to host national and international competition; USA Badminton, USA Basketball, USA BMX, USA Canoe/Kayak, USA Climbing, USA Diving, USA Fencing, U.S. Figure Skating, USA Football, USA Gymnastics, USA Table Tennis, U.S. Rowing, USA Rugby, U.S. Soccer, USA Swimming, Para Swimming and USA Artistic Swimming, USA Taekwondo, USA Track & Field, USA Volleyball, USA Water Polo, and USA Wrestling.

“As the nation’s top sports destination, Orlando has consistently shown that our community can successfully host world-class events,” said City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “We’re excited that with the possibility of Orlando hosting the Olympic Qualifier Series 2028 at Camping World Stadium, which is currently being renovated and expanded to improve the athlete and fan experience. This would be a wonderful opportunity for our community to again play a role in the Olympic Games while showcasing Orlando’s vibrancy to the world.”

“Orange County is excited about the opportunity to host the Olympic Qualifier Series 2028 and are fully supportive of the region’s bid to secure the event,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. “Having a world-class competition like this highlights our community’s ability to shine on a global stage. By investing Tourist Development Tax monies into our sports venues, it provides the very best experiences for athletes and fans.”

“We are incredibly honored that our community is a candidate to host the Olympic Qualifier Series as part of the journey to the LA 2028 Olympic Games,” said Jason Siegel, President & CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission. “Orlando has built a reputation for delivering world-class international events, and this opportunity reflects our region’s continued commitment to elevating global sport while creating memorable experiences for athletes, fans, and residents alike. This effort would not be possible without the incredible collaboration and support from our partners at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Orlando Venues, Camping World Stadium, Visit Orlando, the Florida Sports Foundation and the State of Florida. Together, we share a vision of showcasing our community on the world stage while supporting the growth and evolution of Olympic sport and engaging the next generation of athletes and spectators.”

ABOUT THE GREATER ORLANDO SPORTS COMMISSION

The Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports) is a private, non-profit organization established to attract and manage sports-related events, conferences and activities that drive positive economic development in the City of Orlando, Lake County, Orange County, Osceola County, and Seminole County. Founded in 1992, the organization has hosted or co-hosted more than 1,700 events in the Greater Orlando area with a total economic impact exceeding $3.86 billion in spending within the community. For more information, visit GreaterOrlandoSports.com