Los Angeles Olympics & Paralympics A to Z for Climbing Industry Insiders

The 2028 Olympics & Paralympics will be taking place in Los Angeles, and it’s a big moment for the climbing world—in more ways than one. Most notably, Para Climbing will be making its first-ever Paralympics appearance. In total, Para Climbing’s debut will feature 80 athletes (40 women, 40 men) and eight medal events (B2, RP1, AU2, AL2 for women; B1, RP1, AU2, AL2 for men).

Also for the first time, in the Climbing events there will be separate medals for Boulder, Lead and Speed. Whereas a combined format was used for Climbing’s Olympic debut in Tokyo, and in Paris Boulder and Lead were combined, for Los Angeles athletes can focus on their specialty (although cross-qualification is possible). Across the three disciplines, 76 athletes (38 men and 38 women) will vie for gold.

In the lead up to the Los Angeles Games, we’ve been curating a list of top articles and resources for climbing industry insiders that we’ll keep updating for you over the months ahead. Below you’ll find information on the qualification system for the Games, when and where to watch the Climbing and Para Climbing, previews and recaps (once available), interviews with athletes, commentary on it all, and much more.

WHEN & WHERE TO WATCH

• Live & Replays: NBC (USA), CBC (CAN), Eurosport / Eurovision (Europe), more locations coming soon
• Results: Olympics.com
• Monday, July 24: Men’s Boulder semi-final & Men’s/Women’s Speed qualifications
• Tuesday, July 25: Women’s Boulder semi-final & Men’s Lead semi-final
• Wednesday, July 26: Men’s Speed final & Women’s Lead semi-final
• Thursday, July 27: Men’s Boulder final
• Friday, July 28: Women’s Boulder final & Men’s Lead final
• Saturday, July 29: Women’s Lead final
• Thursday, August 24: Men’s AU2/B1/RP1 qualifications & Women’s RP1/AL2/B2 qualifications
• Friday, August 25: Men’s AL2/Women’s AU2 qualifications & Men’s B1/AU2 finals & Women’s RP1/AL2 finals
• Saturday, August 26: Men’s RP1 final & Women’s B1 final
• Sunday, August 27: Men’s AL2 final & Women’s AU2 final

ORGANIZATIONS

• International Olympic Committee
• LA28 Organizing Committee
• US Olympic & Paralympic Committee
• World Climbing (Olympics, Paralympics)
• USA Climbing
• Climbing Escalade Canada
• GB Climbing
• Sport Climbing Australia
• Links to other National Federations

OFFICIAL OLYMPIC & PARALYMPICS EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIERS

Coming in 2027…

OLYMPIC & PARALYMPICS SUPPORT STAFF

Coming in 2027…

OLYMPIC CLIMBING & PARALYMPIC PARA CLIMBING ESSENTIALS

1. Para Climbing Set to Make Paralympics Debut (CBJ)
2. Para Climbing Confirmed For Paralympic Games LA28 With Eight Medal Events (World Climbing)
3. More Sport Climbing Medals Approved for LA28 (USA Climbing)
4. Sport Climbing’s Three Disciplines Get Standalone Medals for LA28 (World Climbing)
5. Para Climbing Added to a Paralympic Games for the First Time (CBJ)
6. 2028 Olympic Program Includes Climbing (CBJ)

CLIMBING & PARALYMPIC SCHEDULE & VENUE NEWS

1. LA28 Reveals Comprehensive Paralympic Competition Schedule (World Climbing)
2. IFSC Visits Los Angeles as Climbing at LA28 Starts to Take Shape (World Climbing)
3. Para Climbing Set For Historic Four-Day Paralympic Debut at LA28 (World Climbing)
4. Climbing Competition Dates and Venue Confirmed for Olympic Games LA28 (World Climbing)
5. Sport Climbing Competition Schedule Confirmed for Olympic Games LA28 (USA Climbing)
6. Long Beach Confirmed as the Home of Climbing at LA28 (World Climbing)

OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC QUALIFICATION NEWS

1. World Climbing Unveils 2027 International Competition Calendar (World Climbing)
2. IPC Releases Qualification Pathway To LA28 (World Climbing)
3. Climbing Confirmed For Olympic Q-Series Events In Tokyo, Shanghai and Orlando (World Climbing)
4. Here’s How Climbers Can Qualify for the Next Olympics (Aaron Pardy, Gripped)
5. Climbing To Feature In Expanded Olympic Q-Series (World Climbing)
6. Qualification System for LA28 Released (World Climbing)
7. Qualification System Confirmed for Olympic Games LA28 (USA Climbing)

OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC QUALIFICATION RESULTS & RECAPS

Coming in 2027…

OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC RESULTS & RECAPS

Coming in 2028…

OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC ATHLETE PROFILES & INTERVIEWS

1. Nathaniel Coleman: From Olympic Medallist to LA28 Creator (LA28)
2. An Interview with Janja Garnbret About Olympics and Climbing (Aaron Pardy, Gripped)
3. More coming soon…

OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC PERSPECTIVE & COMMENTARY

1. “A first-world problem” – World Climbing unveils a record-breaking para-climbing season in 2027 (Matthew Amaré, Vertige Media)
2. Para-climbing – let the games begin, no more bets! (Vertige Media)
3. Gender tests at the 2028 Olympics – a sports and advocacy coalition denounces “gender policing” (Pierre-Gaël Pasquiou. Vertige Media)
4. Last Week’s Paralympic Climbing Announcement Left Some Athletes Stunned. Here’s Why. (Suzie Hodges Irby, Climbing-dot-com)
5. Finally! Climbing Will Have 3 Medal Categories at 2028 Olympics (Maya Silver, Climbing-dot-com)

MORE OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC RELATED NEWS

1. USA Climbing Releases 2025 Impact Report (USA Climbing)
2. The 2030 Olympics Rejects Proposal to Add Ice Climbing (Maya Silver, Climbing-dot-com)
3. USA Climbing’s New Strategic Plan Anticipates a “New Era of Competition Climbing” (CBJ)
4. USA Climbing Unveils 2025-2028 Strategic Plan (USA Climbing)
5. Climbing Escalade Canada launches 2025–2028 Strategic Plan: “From Today to L.A.” (Christiane Marceau, CEC)
6. Rekabi Becomes Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 Role Model (World Climbing)
7. UK Sport to Award BMC £2.775 Million for LA28 Sport and Paraclimbing Programme (Natalie Berry, UK Climbing)
8. British Mountaineering Council to Receive Olympic and Paralympic Investment From UK Sport for LA 2028 Cycle (BMC)
9. CEC Becomes an Official Member of the Canadian Paralympic Committee (Christiane Marceau, CEC)