Oklahoma City, already a "major league city," may soon add "Olympic city" to its bragging rights.

LA28, the organization overseeing the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, is seeking to locate the canoeing competition at Oklahoma City's Riversport Rapids along the Oklahoma River and softball competition at Devon Park in the Adventure District.

The announcement Friday comes with a caveat that the relocation of the Canoe Slalom must first be approved by the Los Angeles City Council, which is expected to take place later this summer.

Casey Wasserman, LA28 chairman, told The Oklahoman the Los Angeles City Council has been kept informed about the discussions of placing the canoeing and softball competition in Oklahoma City, and that a vote is expected later this summer. Wasserman said his organization has tracked development of both Oklahoma City venues since shortly after Los Angeles was awarded the 2028 games.

"When you think about canoe/kayak facilities, truthfully Oklahoma City is second to none," Wasserman said. "It's a two and a half hour plane flight from L.A. It's not uncommon to have venues a couple hours away from the host city because of the ability of other places to do some of these sports."

By announcing Oklahoma City and other venues outside of Los Angeles but still in California, Wasserman hopes to avoid building new venues that will not be used after the games. Slalom and softball aligns with the sustainability policy adopted by the International Olympic Committee in 2019 that allows hosts to locate competitions in other cities to avoid costly construction of new venues that are later abandoned.

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"For the Canoe Slalom there is not any venue for this sport in California or frankly anywhere in the western United States," Wasserman said. "We carried out a nationwide search and identified the top tier venue that hosts international competitions for Canoe Slalom in Oklahoma City. Partnering with this venue delivers considerable savings for LA28, brings in revenue, and makes economic sense for the organizing committee and the City of Los Angeles."

Devon Park has long hosted the Women's College World Series, which is showcased every year on ESPN.

"Oklahoma City has demonstrated their ability to rally around sports to the nation through hosting the Women’s College World Series and investing $35 million in upgrades to their softball facility," Wasserman said. "They’ve developed the best softball venue in the United States with a seating capacity of more than 14,000 seats. No softball venue in California has more than 2,000 seats. To avoid building a costly softball venue in L.A. and leverage the best softball venue in the country, we are very pleased to host softball in Oklahoma City."

The announcement on Friday caps a years-long series of discussions and cooperative efforts between Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and Eric Garcetti, who served as Los Angeles mayor from 2013 until his appointment as ambassador to India in 2023.

"For the past six years we have been working closely with leaders from LA28 and the city of Los Angeles to develop a plan to support L.A.'s delivery of the 2028 summer Olympics by hosting all Canoe Slalom and Women's Softball events in Oklahoma City," Holt said Friday. "Oklahoma City has hosted many international competitions at our unique, world-class whitewater and softball venues. We are confident we will be an outstanding partner to LA28 in creating a dynamic environment for Olympians and fans."

Riversport Rapids and Devon Park represent investments made by Oklahoma City residents over the past 30 years following years of stagnation and economic malaise. Both venues are adjacent to major highways with Devon Park located close to Interstate 44 and Riversport adjacent to Interstates 40 and 35.

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Devon Park, previously known as USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, has played a role in the rising popularity of women’s sports as host of the Women’s College World Series since 1990. The stadium underwent multiple upgrades and expansions, funded through bond issues approved by voters, in response to the growing fan base for women’s softball.

The $42.5 million Riversport Rapids was built as part of Oklahoma City’s MAPS 3, a temporary sales tax also approved by voters. Recirculating channels pumping treated water create courses for both family fun and Olympic-caliber whitewater rafting, tubing, kayaking and canoeing.

The emergence of Riversport along the Oklahoma River over the past 20 years resulted in it being designated a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training site in 2009. The Olympic Team Trials have been held at Riversport four times in recent years, most recently in April.

The Canoe Slalom requires a whitewater course in which athletes must navigate through an array of gates. Penalties are recorded each time the athletes touch or miss a gate or go off-path.

Oklahoma’s history with the Olympics dates back almost 40 years to when the organization held its Olympic Festival in Oklahoma City to coincide with the 1989 Land Run.

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Gold medals will be awarded in Oklahoma City. Wasserman said athletes in Oklahoma City will be treated to world-class venues and still get to experience part of the Olympics in Los Angeles.

"We are absolutely in alignment with the federations and Oklahoma City that all athletes that compete there are guaranteed to experience opening or closing in Los Angeles, and possibly both for some," Wasserman said. "We've been to a lot of the competitions (at Riversport Rapids) in Oklahoma City over the past five to seven years. It's a really spectacular facility. We know it incredibly well, and it will be a spectacular venue. I have no doubt we'll sell out with significant interest. The stadium is a 14,000-seat facility, and I am quite certain we sell out all 14,000 seats for every session."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 2028 Olympics: Oklahoma City on track to host softball, canoeing events