Oklahoma City University will offer an inside look at the city’s leap onto the global sports stage as it hosts official 2028 Olympic events. OCU’s next Martha Jean Lemon Distinguished Speaker Series presentation will be a panel discussion with some of the key leaders tasked with preparing the city for this historic moment.
“The Olympics in Oklahoma City (OKC)” panel discussion will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 22 in the Meinders School of Business auditorium at NW 27th Street and McKinley Avenue. The event is free to the public and no RSVP is required.
The discussion, organized by OCU’s Petree College of Arts & Sciences, will focus on Oklahoma City’s direct involvement with the upcoming LA28 Olympic Games as it hosts the canoe slalom and women’s softball competitions. OCU will serve as the satellite village for the events.
Oklahoma City mayor and OCU Law Dean David Holt will lead the conversation with:
- Michael Byrnes, president of the Team OKC planning organization
- Craig Cress, CEO of USA Softball, Inc.
- Mike Knopp, founder of RIVERSPORT
OCU Arts & Sciences Dean Amy Cataldi said the event will provide the public with an inside look at the logistics associated with hosting an event of international magnitude.
“Welcoming the world for the Olympic Games is a profound milestone that goes far beyond athletics,” Cataldi said. “It places our community at the epicenter of a global cultural exchange. This speaker series allows us to look behind the curtain, inspiring our city to think globally and recognize the limitless potential of our city’s future.”
Panelists will share exclusive insights into how decades of strategic self-investment paved the way for this opportunity. The selection of Oklahoma City as an official venue site builds on the community’s long-term commitment to sustainable, world-class infrastructure.
“Oklahoma City is the only city outside of Southern California that is hosting the entirety of a sport, and we are hosting two, for 16 straight days,” Holt said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our entire part of the country. The Olympic brand transcends sports, so this is an opportunity our city will leverage for decades to come.
“And I’m thrilled that OCU will play a direct role in this legacy through hosting the athletes. It’s fitting, because OCU has been a part of the story from the very beginning, having championed our city’s commitment to paddle sports for two decades.”
While working in close partnership with the LA28 organization to deliver a seamless cultural and athletic experience, city leaders emphasize that the global spotlight will bring economic growth, jobs and international recognition directly to Oklahoma City.
The speaker series at OCU is made possible by the Martha Jean Lemon Distinguished Speaker Series endowment with support from the Jeanne Hoffman Smith Center for Film & Literature and Richard and Gayle Parry. For more information about the series, visit okcu.edu/lemonlecture.
