The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), one of the largest non-profit, volunteer, amateur multi-sport organizations in the world, announced Friday that Baltimore, Maryland will serve as the host city for the 2028 and 2032 AAU Junior Olympic Games. The announcement came during a press conference on the campus of Morgan State University - featuring Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, AAU President & CEO Jennings “Rusty” Buchanan, Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland President Terry Hasseltine, and Visit Baltimore President & CEO Al Hutchinson.
“As a former AAU Athlete, it is an incredible honor to announce that Baltimore will host the 2028 and 2032 AAU Junior Olympics Games,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “Bringing this amazing event to Baltimore aligns with my Action Plan pillar for prioritizing youth and reflects my sincere belief in the profound benefits of healthy competition. There is no greater honor for me and every youth athlete who has ever participated in the AAU program than to be able to host this incredible event, and there is no better place to hold the competition than on the campus of Morgan State University, right here in Baltimore.”
“The AAU has a long tradition of working with host cities to provide premier youth sporting events across the country each year,” said Jennings “Rusty” Buchanan, Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) President & CEO. “Bringing the Games to Baltimore continues that trend of working with the very best partner cities who share our vision of Sports For All, Forever to hold record-breaking events for the youth of America.”
"It is an absolute honor that the AAU has selected Baltimore as the host city for the Junior Olympic Games for 2028 and 2032," said Al Hutchinson, President and CEO of Visit Baltimore. "Baltimore is becoming a major player in the sporting events industry and continuing to secure large sporting events like the AAU Junior Olympic Games encourages the development of youth sports facilities in Baltimore so we can position our city nationally as a great destination for sports lovers to enjoy everything that Baltimore has to offer."
“Baltimore City and the State of Maryland continue to be a sought-out destination for national and global caliber sport tourism events. To partner with AAU and host their Junior Olympic Games in 2028 and 2032 - given the organization's reputation and positive impact on youth sports nationwide - is a huge win for the local community,” said Terry Hasseltine, President of the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland (The Sport Corp.), the non-profit arm of the Maryland Sports Commission.
The AAU Junior Olympic Games is the largest national multi-sport event conducted annually for youth in the United States and is the showcase event of the AAU Youth Sports Program. The inaugural Games were hosted by Washington, DC in 1967 with two sports and 523 athletes.
Serving as the host of the AAU Junior Olympic Games has proven to be rewarding to the local community. The economic impact for hosting the AAU Junior Olympic Games is estimated at $59 million on average for the host cities, over eleven days of competition between late July and early August, and an estimated 26,000 to 38,000 visitors to Baltimore during that span, for both 2028 and 2032 respectively. This marks the first time that Baltimore - or the State of Maryland - has been selected to host the AAU Junior Olympic Games.
Some of the sports hosted during the AAU Junior Olympics include:
Baton Twirling
Field Hockey
Jump Rope
Karate
Sport Stacking
Swimming
Taekwondo
Track & Field/Multi-Events
Trampoline & Tumbling
Wrestling (HS Team)
Wrestling (Girls)
About AAU
The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) has been raising champions for more than a century. Since its inception in 1888, the AAU has set the standard for amateur sports in the United States with one goal in mind: “Sports For All, Forever.” It is more than a motto – it has been the focus and drive of AAU for 130 years and counting for sports in the United States and throughout the world.
About Visit Baltimore
We are writing a new chapter in our history, fueled by cultural tastemakers and creative entrepreneurs. Today’s Baltimore is a vibrant community that honors the past while keeping a keen eye on the future. Our city is where you can see the largest public collection of Matisse in the world (for free!), sip a craft beer in the sanctuary of a converted church and stay in a four-star hotel poised atop an historic recreation pier. But the Baltimore experience is about more than exploring neighborhoods and cultural sites. To really know this place, you have to meet our artists, provocateurs and visionaries who call Charm City home. Come see what we’re all about and plan your visit today.
About the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland (The Sport Corp.)
The Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland is a 501(c)3 established in 2019 to further and promote exclusively, charitable, religious, educational and scientific purposes and the business and objects to be carried on and promoted by it are:
To incubate cultural and operational event integrity for large scale sport and entertainment events in Maryland
To support Maryland Sports in hosting major sports events, economic analysis and research relating to sports, sponsorship of major sports events, and development of partnerships with other public and private entities to sponsor major sports events
To lessen the government’s burden by promoting regional, national and international sporting events in the State of Maryland
To recruit, retain, market, promote and manage sports events that have positive media exposure, economic impact and image impact within the State of Maryland, and which will enhance the quality of life of citizens of the State of Maryland
To solicit and receive contributions from businesses, governmental entities, nonprofit entities and individuals interested in the promotion of sports in the State of Maryland.
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