Key Takeaways
- LA28 and the IOC have committed $160M through PlayLA to fund youth sports programming across Los Angeles
- The LA region now has its first-ever blind soccer-specific pitch, dedicated by LA Galaxy in Carson
- Over 60 students with visual impairments participated in a hands-on clinic led by Team USA Blind Soccer athletes
- More than 5,000 female and non-binary students attended YMCA Girls Empowerment Day, now in its fifth year with LA28 support
- LA28’s Gift of Sport initiative outfitted 4,000+ SRLA students with Nike uniforms for the Los Angeles Marathon
First-Ever Blind Soccer Pitch Opens in Carson
On March 4, LA28 joined forces with the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA), PlayLA, LA Galaxy, and the Los Angeles Unified School District to dedicate the first blind soccer-specific pitch in the Los Angeles region. Located in Carson, the facility hosted over 60 PlayLA participants with visual impairments for a clinic led by Team USA Blind Soccer national team players and coaches.
Participants rotated through skill-building drills and watched a live scrimmage demonstration of a sport that will debut at the LA Paralympic Games in 2028 at Alamitos Beach Stadium.
“The Paralympic Games present an opportunity for a global shift in perception towards people with disabilities and will show what’s possible in the pursuit of excellence, regardless of ability,” said Janet Evans, LA28 Chief Athlete Officer.
The event was part of PlayLA’s broader adaptive sports expansion, funded through the $160M commitment from LA28 and the International Olympic Committee. That investment supports quality, affordable sports programming for kids of all abilities, including adaptive programming now integrated into City of LA recreation for the first time.
5,000 Students Turn Out for YMCA Girls Empowerment Day
Two days after the blind soccer dedication, LA28 returned to Carson as a key supporter of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles’ Girls Empowerment Day. The event, held in celebration of International Women’s Day, marked LA28’s fifth consecutive year of involvement.
More than 5,000 LAUSD middle school and high school female and non-binary students participated in sports clinics and heard from professionals including Olympian Queen Harrison Claye. At the close of the event, LA28 distributed its Gift of Sport packages, which included Nike apparel and shoes, removing gear as a barrier to participation.
4,000+ Marathon Runners Outfitted Through Gift of Sport
At the 41st Los Angeles Marathon, over 4,000 Students Run LA (SRLA) participants lined up at Dodger Stadium wearing Nike uniforms provided by LA28. The program, which serves students from underserved communities across LA County, uses marathon training as a vehicle for mentorship, goal-setting, and confidence building.
LA28 has supported SRLA with uniforms in previous years, continuing a commitment to ensuring that students can compete without worrying about proper gear.
What $160M in Youth Sports Funding Looks Like on the Ground
The March programming offers a snapshot of what large-scale Olympic investment in youth sports looks like at the community level. Across three events in a single week, LA28 touched thousands of young athletes through adaptive sport access, girls’ empowerment programming, and gear distribution for distance runners.
With the 2028 Games approaching, LA28’s strategy centers on using its funding and partner network to reduce barriers to participation, whether that means building new adaptive facilities, supplying equipment, or creating programming pipelines for underserved populations.
via: LA28
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