> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Officials unveil Venice triathlon courses for first medal event of LA28 Games - URL: https://www.smdp.com/officials-unveil-venice-triathlon-courses-for-first-medal-event-of-la28-games/ - Published: 2026-09-24T01:46:02.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-24T20:01:41.000Z - Author: Matthew Hall - Tags: Sports The first medals of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will be decided on the sand, streets and canal bridges of Venice, where LA28 on Wednesday released preliminary courses for the Olympic and Paralympic triathlon. The women's individual race opens competition July 15, 2028, followed by the men's race July 16 and the mixed relay July 20\. The Paralympic triathlon is scheduled for Aug. 18-19\. LA28 said the loop-style courses remain subject to operational testing. "This iconic neighborhood will add another meaningful chapter to its storied history as the first LA28 medals of the 2028 Games are awarded here," said Shana Ferguson, LA28 chief of sport and games delivery officer. 0:00 /0:40 1× Athletes in the individual events will start from the beach rather than a pontoon, only the second time that has happened in Olympic history. After working through the surf line, they will swim a 1,000-meter lap, exit the water, run 25 meters and dive back in for a 500-meter second lap to complete 1,500 meters. The 40-kilometer bike leg follows the Venice bike path before turning onto neighborhood streets for eight 5-kilometer laps with two technical turnarounds. Riders will pass in front of the Venice sign before returning to transition. The 10-kilometer run covers four 2.5-kilometer laps along much of the same route, with athletes crossing bridges over the Venice Canals on their way to the finish. All events will use a single transition area where Venice Boulevard meets the beach, with the finish line next to it overlooking the Pacific. Athletes will return to that hub after every bike and run lap, giving spectators repeated views of competitors. Organizers described the bike and run routes as generally flat and designed for fast racing. In the mixed relay, four-person teams will alternate women and men. The first athlete starts from a common line on the shoreline, and each competitor swims one 350-meter lap, rides two 3.3-kilometer laps for 6.6 kilometers and runs two 800-meter laps for 1.6 kilometers. After each handoff, the next teammate runs to the water to begin. Para athletes in six sport classes — PTWC, PTS2, PTS3, PTS4, PTS5 and PTVI — will start from a barge beyond the breakwater for a single 750-meter swim. They will then ride three 6.6-kilometer laps, which LA28 lists as a 20-kilometer total, and run two 2.5-kilometer laps for 5 kilometers. Athletes will get an early look at the courses during World Triathlon's T50 Triathlon World Tour event in Venice July 16-18, 2027\. LA28 said the event will be used to assess course performance and operational readiness. "Venice is excited to welcome Olympic and Paralympic athletes and fans from around the world to one of LA's most iconic communities," said Councilwoman Traci Park. LA28 moved triathlon to Venice from Long Beach in April 2025. Venice will also serve as the starting line for several other events. The cycling road races will begin at the Venice Beach Boardwalk July 22-23 and finish at Griffith Observatory. The women's Olympic marathon will start there July 29 and the men's July 30, and the Paralympic marathon will run from the boardwalk to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Aug. 27. LA28 has said full marathon and road race routes will be released before the end of 2026\. In February, former professional cyclist Phil Gaimon described a road race route that would send riders up Main Street in Santa Monica and along Pacific Coast Highway into Malibu. LA28 has not confirmed that route. Organizers have not announced fan zones or official viewing areas, though a Visit California trade guide lists Venice Beach among planned sites. The Games will make Los Angeles the third city to host the Olympics three times, following 1932 and 1984, and will mark the city's first Paralympics. More than 15,000 athletes are expected, and LA28 says the Games will be the first since 1948 to build no new permanent infrastructure. Santa Monica will not host competition. The city ended nearly two years of negotiations over beach volleyball April 8, 2025, after LA28 declined to revise its proposed agreement. A city analysis had projected $15.54 million in costs against $14.09 million in revenue, and the event moved to Alamitos Beach in Long Beach. The city has since pursued paid hospitality agreements with no city subsidy planned. The City Council voted to negotiate event deals, including Club France at the Annenberg Community Beach House, Nations Village at Crescent Bay Park and House of Switzerland at Camera Obscura.