As applications open for volunteers for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Team OKC marked the two-year countdown to the LA28 Olympics by hosting Oklahoma City’s first official LA28 community volunteer event Tuesday at Zach D. Taylor Park.
Held in partnership with OKC Beautiful, the community cleanup brought together more than 100 volunteers, who collected 6,747 pounds of trash while helping revitalize one of the city’s high-need public spaces. The event coincided with the launch of applications for the LA28 Volunteer Program presented by Delta Air Lines, which aims to recruit up to 60,000 volunteers to support the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and Oklahoma City in 2028.
“Volunteers are the heart of every Olympic and Paralympic Games, and today we were proud to officially kick off that spirit of service here in Oklahoma City,” said Michael Byrnes, president of Team OKC. “As a host venue for Softball and Canoe Slalom in 2028, Oklahoma City has an incredible opportunity to welcome the world. Today’s volunteers helped launch that journey.”
Oklahoma City will serve as the venue for Olympic Softball and Canoe Slalom competitions during the 2028 Summer Games, making it one of the few cities outside Southern California to host Olympic events.
The local cleanup was one of several community service projects held Tuesday across the Los Angeles region and Oklahoma City to celebrate the two-year countdown before the Opening Ceremony. Volunteers worked to remove litter, improve public spaces and encourage community involvement ahead of the Games.
“In 2028, the world’s attention will be on LA as the world’s best athletes make history, but it’s the crew behind the scenes that help make those moments possible,” said Reynold Hoover, chief executive officer of LA28. “Behind every event, every venue and every moment will be the LA28 Volunteer Crew, ready and eager to play a vital role in the delivery of the LA28 Games.”
The LA28 Volunteer Crew offers two ways for community members to participate: local volunteer projects leading up to the Games and Games-time volunteer positions during the Olympic and Paralympic competitions.
While most volunteer opportunities will be based in Los Angeles, volunteers will also be needed in Oklahoma City to support softball and canoe slalom events.
Applications for Games-time volunteers are now open at volunteer.LA28.org. Candidates selected for the program will help welcome athletes and visitors, assist at venues and support operations during what organizers expect to be the largest Olympic and Paralympic Games in history.