The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee -IOC- approved a series of key decisions during its meeting in Milan, held in the framework of preparations for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Among the measures were the introduction of new weightlifting categories for Los Angeles 2028, the adoption of a revised process for developing the sports programme of Brisbane 2032, and an update on progress towards the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Weightlifting will feature six bodyweight categories per gender at Los Angeles 2028, following the decision to add one men’s and one women’s division without altering the overall athlete quota of 120 competitors. The aim is to align the competition structure with international elite standards while reducing risks linked to extreme weight loss, thereby supporting athlete health.
Nicole Hoevertsz, Chair of the Los Angeles 2028 Coordination Commission, also confirmed venues for mountain biking and diving, the publication of the official sports schedule, and the release of the LA28 Impact and Sustainability Plan. She further noted that ticket sales and hospitality packages were announced earlier this week.
Institutional and operational updates on LA28
In her presentation, Hoevertsz highlighted that the PlayLA youth programme has surpassed one million registrations, consolidating its role as a major driver of grassroots sports in the host city. She also underlined the importance of recent engagement with media organisations, international bodies and national committees through the Press Plus Agencies Meeting, the World Broadcasters Briefing and the open days for National Olympic and Paralympic Committees. These gatherings have reinforced cooperation and coordination ahead of 2028.
Such initiatives strengthen stakeholder involvement and ensure that operational planning for the Games advances in alignment with federations, media and the IOC itself.
Brisbane 2032 to implement discipline review
Regarding Brisbane 2032, the IOC Executive Board confirmed that the initial sports programme will be approved in 2026 and will include, for the first time, a discipline-by-discipline review. This mechanism, introduced for Los Angeles 2028, allows for a detailed evaluation of sports and disciplines before final approval of the full package of initial sports, disciplines and any additions proposed by the Organising Committee.
This approach offers greater visibility to international federations and national committees in the early stages, provides clarity for the venue master plan, and enables the optimisation of facilities through potential shared use.
Preparations for Dakar 2026, one year to go
The IOC Executive Board also received an update on preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. On 31 October, the “One Year to Go” milestone will be marked by activities including the fourth edition of the Dakar en Jeux festival and open days for National Olympic Committees.
Infrastructure development continues to progress, with the Complexe Tour de l’Oeuf—set to host swimming, 3×3 basketball, breaking, baseball5 and skateboarding—and the Complexe Iba Mar Diop, which will stage athletics and rugby sevens, scheduled for completion in March 2026. The Equestrian Centre is expected to be finalised in April, while the Youth Olympic Village will be delivered in May. In parallel, the Learning Academy has been launched for African National Olympic Committees, aiming to develop skilled professionals for the future of the Olympic Movement on the continent.
