Chinese Shooting Team Reacts to 2028 Olympics Schedule Changes

The Chinese national shooting team has responded to the news that the first gold medal of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games will not be awarded in a shooting event. The team emphasized that regardless of the event, a gold medal remains a gold medal. They stated they would dedicate the same level of effort and preparation as they have for previous Olympic Games, aiming to compete with full strength for their country's honor.

The LA 2028 organizing committee recently unveiled the initial competition schedule. The schedule indicates that the first Olympic gold medal will be awarded in the triathlon event on July 15, 2028, between 7:30 am and 10:10 am local time. Shooting finals will still occur later that day, with medal events scheduled between 1:45 pm and 9:00 pm.

Historically, the first gold medal of the Olympics has often been awarded in a shooting discipline, although the specific event has varied across different Games. For instance, the women's 10m air rifle opened the gold medal tally at the 2004 Athens Olympics, and the 10m air rifle mixed team event did so at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Chinese shooting team has a strong track record, having secured the first Olympic gold medal five times. This includes Xu Haifeng's historic victory, which marked China's first-ever Olympic gold medal, as well as the 10m air rifle mixed team gold won by Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao at the Paris Olympics.

The LA 2028 schedule also features several significant changes. Track and field events will be held during the first week of the Games, while swimming will be moved to the second week. The opening ceremony is scheduled for July 14, and the closing ceremony will take place on July 30.