The road to Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) is becoming clearer earlier than in previous Olympic cycles. The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved 22 additional qualification systems for the upcoming Olympic Games, adding to the 26 already validated in December 2025. As a result, 48 disciplines now have clear rules on how athletes can secure their place at the California event, while the remaining six systems will be reviewed at a future session of the body.
This early definition provides not only sporting certainty but also operational clarity. Each system has been designed under the Qualification System Principles (QSP) approved in March 2025, a framework that seeks coherence, transparency and competitive balance. In this process, the International Federations (IFs) retain a leading role, as they are responsible for establishing the specific qualification criteria, always in accordance with the Olympic Charter and subject to final approval by the IOC.
A model that draws on lessons from Paris 2024
Much of the qualification structure approved for LA28 builds on systems that have already proven effective at Paris 2024 and in previous editions of the Games. Rather than improvising, the IOC and the IFs chose to refine already established pathways, incorporating recommendations that emerged from the post-Games review process in the French capital, in which National Olympic Committees (NOCs), federations and other stakeholders in the Olympic ecosystem took part.
This approach allows athletes and technical teams to rely on familiar rules, reducing the uncertainty that often accompanies new Olympic cycles. At the same time, it enables NOCs to plan their competitive calendars, budgets and preparation strategies with greater precision, relying on qualification parameters rooted in recent Olympic experience.
More opportunities, less burden and greater anticipation for athletes
One of the central pillars of the LA28 qualification systems is multiple qualification opportunities for athletes to reach the Games. Continental and global representation remains a guiding principle, ensuring that the universal nature of Olympism is reflected not only in the competition itself but also in the qualification process.
In addition, the new systems aim to reduce travel demands for athletes and teams, an increasingly relevant factor in economic, logistical and wellbeing terms. The early approval by the IOC Executive Board, with more lead time than in previous editions, gives athletes, coaches and NOCs a clearer horizon and broader timelines to organize their path to LA28, turning planning into a competitive advantage.
