Montreal has secured its position as one of the final qualifying cities for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, as revealed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday. This significant announcement was made in Lausanne, Switzerland, with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) being informed earlier this week. The city will host a series of thrilling Olympic qualifiers, marking the return of the Olympic rings to Canada.
A Major Sporting Event for the City
Eric Myles, the COC’s chief sport officer, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “It’s the return of the Olympic rings to Montreal, Quebec and Canada.” The Olympic Qualifier Series, also known as the Q-Series, will take place in three other cities: Orlando, Tokyo, and Shanghai. Montreal will host competitions in dynamic sports such as 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, BMX freestyle, climbing, skateboarding, and flag football, which will feature for the first time in Olympic history at the Los Angeles Games.
Tricia Smith, president of the COC, echoed the excitement, saying, “Extremely excited to have this kind of event coming to Montreal, to my country. I know Montreal does a fantastic job with events; we’re always proud when Montreal hosts events.”
Anticipated Participation and Events
The event is projected to attract nearly 2,000 participants, including around 500 athletes, along with an expected audience of 70,000 spectators. Myles highlighted the event’s appeal, noting, “It fits perfectly with our development plan. These are very modern, very ‘young’ sports. There’s the competition aspect, but also the entire urban festival component, with plenty of interaction between spectators and athletes. It’s such a great fit for Montreal.”
Scheduled from June 1-4, 2028, the qualifiers will be hosted at Montreal’s Olympic Park, a venue originally constructed for the 1976 Summer Games. The city will feature competitions in five out of the six sports, all consolidated at this central location. Notably, the Olympic Park is currently undergoing significant renovations, including the replacement of the stadium’s roof and technical ring, with the aim of completing improvements by 2028.
Financial Backing and Community Commitment
The estimated cost of hosting the event is around $28 million, with $22 million expected to come from various government levels. The remainder will be funded by private partners, some of whom are already aligned with the COC. Myles remarked on the swift support from all three levels of government, stating, “Support for the project came quickly. The groundwork was also done properly. It shows the quality of what’s coming.”
The interest from Montreal was evident as soon as the IOC announced the new events. Smith explained that Tourisme Montréal approached the COC to discuss the competition early in 2024, leading to extensive discussions with the IOC. “A staff member of the COC attended the Olympic Qualifier Series 2024 as an observer to better understand the event,” she noted, which facilitated the development of a business plan and ultimately a successful bid.
Legacy of the Olympic Qualifier Series
For Smith, a four-time Olympian and silver medalist from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, this series of events aligns seamlessly with Montreal’s ambition to remain a significant player in international sports. “New and innovative IOC initiatives like the Olympic Qualifier Series align well with Montreal’s Olympic legacy and its tradition of hosting major sporting events and festivals, a part of the city’s DNA,” she said.
Myles pointed out that the event will leave a lasting legacy in terms of sports infrastructure, including facilities such as a climbing wall and a skate park. “When you look at the whole picture, it became a very interesting project,” he stated.
While the COC has expressed interest in bringing major games back to Canada, Myles clarified, “This is a step, a different kind of step, but it wouldn’t be accurate to draw a direct link between hosting these events and a future Montreal Olympic bid.”
Why it Matters
Montreal’s role in the Olympic Qualifier Series represents not only a significant milestone for the city but also underscores Canada’s commitment to fostering a vibrant sporting culture. The influx of athletes and spectators will invigorate local economies, celebrate community spirit, and enhance Montreal’s international reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events. As the city prepares to welcome the world, it also lays the groundwork for future opportunities to host larger-scale competitions, potentially including the Olympics themselves.
