15 November 2024 – Preparations and excitement for the Olympic and Paralympic Games LA28 have progressed significantly in recent months, driven by the success of Paris 2024, with the LA28 Organising Committee reporting that momentum is rapidly accelerating, during this week’s International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission visit to Los Angeles.
Reflecting on this week’s visit, the IOC’s LA28 Coordination Commission Chair, Nicole Hoevertsz, said: “Every time we visit Los Angeles, we are reminded just how remarkable this city is, and how extraordinary its people are. We see this in the quality and quantity of world-class sports facilities available for the Games, including modern, cutting-edge stadiums and iconic legacy venues from the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games.”
She continued: “This rich history has embedded the Games within the DNA of Los Angeles, and we’ve seen it again during this visit. LA28 also has the capacity to energise the Games with LA’s culture of innovation. As the organisers enter a new phase, the pace of preparations will now change and, together, we will work hard to create an unforgettable experience that can resonate far beyond 2028.”
Speaking about the progress made, the Chair of the LA28 Organising Committee, Casey Wasserman, said: “It’s been a terrific three days hosting the Coordination Commission and showcasing the progress we’ve driven for our Games. We’ve developed an incredible foundation for our Games, and we’ll continue to build on this as we enter the delivery phase of LA28’s life cycle. LA28 has the most talented team of people making sure we have what we need to build something truly extraordinary for athletes, fans, residents and visitors. We’re focused and we’re where we need to be to host an exceptional event in 2028.”
During the meetings, the Coordination Commission received updates on a crucial period of activities that is approaching for the Organising Committee. Notably, over the next couple of years LA28 will finalise planning and initiate the delivery of its venue masterplan, competition schedule, Look of the Games, ticketing and hospitality programmes, mascot, Cultural Olympiad and volunteer recruitment.
Paris 2024 debrief, meetings and venue tour
The Coordination Commission and LA28 Organising Committee, joined by representatives from Brisbane 2032, began the week with an insightful debrief session with key leaders from Paris 2024. This included its President, Tony Estanguet, who has recently joined the LA28 Coordination Commission to ensure continuity between the two Games.
Later, the Commission members toured a number of venues, including Long Beach, the new Arena in Inglewood that will host basketball during the Games, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) student accommodation facilities, which will serve as the Olympic and Paralympic Village, and the Rose Bowl. With the LA Memorial Coliseum, the 102-year-old Rose Bowl will become one of only two venues in Los Angeles to have played host to three Olympic Games.
This week’s meeting also provided an important opportunity for LA28 to outline its progress. Key areas highlighted include development of the venue masterplan, continued commercial success, the ongoing expansion of the organising team, and growing engagement with local communities.
The last of these was showcased by the continued success of the PlayLA youth sports programme. Made possible by an agreement between the IOC and LA28 committing to invest up to USD 160 million in the lead-up to the Games, PlayLA now offers low- or no-cost programming across 173 locations, featuring around 40 sports and adaptive options. With over 500,000 youngsters already enrolled and the goal of reaching one million by 2028, PlayLA is creating a lasting legacy, positively impacting the host community well before the Games begin.
The Olympic Games LA28 will be held from 14 to 30 July. The Paralympic Games will then take place between 15 and 27 August.
