OKC Leaders Give Olympic Update, Respond To Criticism

Oklahomans are hearing from Oklahoma City leaders for the first time since the announcement that Oklahoma City has been selected as a 2028 Olympic site.

The Canoe Slalom and Softball events are set to take place in the Sooner State over 14 days in late July 2028.

Mayor David Holt (R-Okla.) and Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Chair Teresa Rose said they had been under nondisclosure agreements as they advocated for the events, however some professional athletes have already made their voices heard, upset with the site selection.

“The reaction in Oklahoma City has been nothing short of euphoric,” Holt told reporters Thursday, describing what he calls one of the biggest things to ever happen in Oklahoma City.

But not everyone is thrilled about the announcement including former Sooner Softball stars Jocleyn Alo and Nicole Mendes.

“It makes me sad for these future Olympians to not experience some of the best parts of the games. I might be one of the only ones thinking this but as a professional softball player, an analyst, and former Olympian, I feel like the Olympic committee needs to be way better,” Mendes wrote on X.

"It's definitely different," Alo told The Oklahoman Newspaper. "I just feel like those athletes, whoever gets selected, are going to miss out on the whole Olympic experience. Obviously, we still get to say that we're Olympians, but yeah, I just feel like we're going to miss out on a lot."

“I think all we can say is we will prove to you as an athlete that this is going to be a very special experience, and maybe it’s going to take the experience itself for everyone to see that,” Holt said.

As renderings are released of the Oklahoma City facilities donning Olympic logos, Oklahoma City leaders say they’ll be following the lead of Los Angeles.

“We certainly envision festival sense really across the whole city,” Holt said. “It’s not just the venues, it’s about this whole community rallying around this and delivering the kind of dynamic experience they might’ve expected in LA.”

Olympic organizers said athletes in Oklahoma events will be able to participate in the opening or closing ceremonies and maybe both depending on scheduling.

“We’re not over on an island,” Rose said “These athletes aren’t going to be competing here separate from the LA experience, the cultural experience, the expectation we will be sharing with LA”

All of this is still pending formal approval by the LA City Council. Mayor Holt said that vote is expected in the next two months.