World Climbing will once again be part of the qualification series of events leading to the Olympic Games – now known as the Olympic Q-Series
Climbing has been confirmed as part of the Olympic Q-Series (formerly the Olympic Qualifier Series) in an expanded format on the road to the LA28 Olympic Games.
With final programme details of each stop yet to be confirmed, the Olympic Q-Series will head to Tokyo, Japan; Shanghai, China; Montreal, Canada; and Orlando, USA between May and June 2028.
Climbing is one of six sports at the Olympic Q-Series, joined by 3x3 basketball, beach volleyball, BMX freestyle, flag football and skateboarding, that IOC President Kirsty Coventry described as “an exciting global event on the road to the LA28 Olympic Games. It's one format, four stops, six sports.”
Coventry continued saying: “The goal is to boost athlete visibility and global fan engagement.
“We believe the Olympic Q-Series will be really exciting for fans and for the host cities. The fans will be right there with the action – the festival feel, the sport, music, culture – coming to life in iconic cities. It will be fast paced and high energy, with lots of action, world-class athletes and a huge focus on youth.”
ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS
Where and when will the Q-Series events be held?
- Stop 1: Tokyo, 4–7 May 2028
- Stop 2: Shanghai, 11–14 May 2028
- Stop 3: Montreal, 1–4 June 2028
- Stop 4: Orlando, 8–11 June 2028
Will Climbing be at all four events?
At the moment the programmes and schedules for each event are not confirmed, which means that Climbing is not confirmed for any specific event just yet. Talks between the IOC and all IF’s will continue and any information will be released when it is available.
How many Olympic qualification places are there at each stop?
The qualification events in 2027 organised by or with World Climbing will offer approximately 50% of the LA28 places, with a single spot available at each.
The Olympic Q-Series will then allocate the remaining places, a minimum of four for Boulder and Lead and six for Speed. More places may be allocated depending on the host country and Universality place results.
What are the qualification events for Climbing at LA28?
All three disciplines will qualify athletes at the same events, beginning with the European Games and Pan American Games set to take place in 2027. Once again there will be qualification on offer at the World Climbing Championship, Continental events and Olympic Q-Series.
There is also one place per gender, per discipline available for the host nation, USA, and one Universality place.
The events that will qualify climbers are:
- European Games, Istanbul, Turkey, 16-27 June 2027
- Pan American Games, Lima, Peru, 2-18 July 2027
- World Climbing Championship – Brno, Czechia, 6-15 August 2027
- World Climbing Africa Qualifier [Location and dates TBC]
- World Climbing Asia Qualifier [Location and dates TBC]
- World Climbing Oceania Qualifier [Location and dates TBC]
- Olympic Q-Series 2028 [Location and dates above]