“Congratulations to Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028! This historic double allocation is a ‘win-win-win’ situation for the city of Paris, the city of Los Angeles, and the IOC,” said the then IOC President, Thomas Bach, back in 2017 when it was confirmed the Olympic torch was to Land In Paris and Los Angeles after Tokyo. From the moment the torch landed in Paris, L.A.’s pulse quickened—after all, for the first time in nearly 30 years, the Games will return to U.S. soil. With 844 ticketed events and a schedule tailored for both American and global audiences, the dates are finally set…

As the official website confirms, the Opening Ceremony is set for July 14, 2028, at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT, split between the LA Memorial Coliseum and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The Closing Ceremony follows on July 30 at the Coliseum. With the IOC unveiling the LA 28 dates, one question electrifies track & field fans: When will 2024 Olympic gold medalists Noah Lyles and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone step on LA’s track? Well, there’s something historic happening there, too.

“The official schedule for the LA 2028 Olympic Games is out!” wrote the Track & Field Gazette via X, attaching the schedule. “Athletics will run from July 15 to 30.” Now, this time around, things have been switched up. This time around, things have been switched up—athletics has been moved to the first week of competition, while swimming will take the second. So, the likes of Noah Lyles, his Olympic rival Kishane Thompson, and others like Kenny Bednarek will be getting busy early. At LA28, track and field medal events will run from July 15 through July 24, continuing on July 27, 29, and 30. While the general competition window is confirmed, the detailed event-by-event schedule has yet to be released.

If athletics at LA28 begins on July 15, and LA follows Paris 2024’s structure, then the men’s 100 m final (held on Day 4 in Paris) would likely be on Day 4 – July 18. The 200 m final (Day 8 in Paris) would then land on July 22, and the 400 m hurdles final (Day 9 in Paris) on July 23. But this is all just speculative; the official events schedule is yet to come out.

Watch out, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone might break another world record in this period from July 15 to 30th. Don’t forget the Trials as well. Traditionally held 6 to 8 weeks before the Games, the 2028 track trials will likely land in early to mid‑June. Also set to be held in L.A., they’ll offer Noah Lyles a shot at fulfilling a dream that was once stolen.

Noah Lyles might look to do what he could not in Paris

After lighting up Budapest in 2023—clinching gold in the 100 m, 200 m, and anchoring the U.S. 4×100 m relay—Noah Lyles didn’t shy away from his next goal: the quadruple gold at Paris 2024. He openly shared his plan to add the 4×400 m relay to his program, saying he was in it for all four: 100, 200, 4×100, and 4×400. In doing so, Lyles became the first man to complete the sprint treble at a World Championship since Usain Bolt in 2015. Next goal for him? Olympics Quadruple.

Lyles had said in an interview, “Because after what I did at Budapest and seeing what my body can handle, if I train for it, okay, let’s take a shot. It’s the last race, there’s nothing to lose. If I’m in shape for it and I’ve trained for it all year, sure, let’s take a crack at it. If they allow me, if they need me, and they are willing – let’s go, let’s take it.” But fate intervened. Just before the 200 m final, he tested positive for COVID‑19. Despite running the 200m, he had to withdraw from both relay teams afterward.

Now, with LA28 on the horizon, he gets another chance. On home soil, in front of a roaring crowd and with a nation behind him, Lyles will return to the Olympic stage with unfinished business and fire in his stride.