Hosting the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles

After the successful 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, the city of Los Angeles is preparing to host the 2028 Summer Games. Stakeholders are confident that Los Angeles will be ready to take on this significant event.

• Mayor Karen Bass expressed her commitment to preparing the city for the 2028 Olympics, emphasizing the need for improvements in public transportation and addressing the issue of homelessness.
• The goal is to have "no cars to the venues," with viewers relying on public transportation to attend the Games.
• Plans include investing in bus and subway infrastructure and collaborating with neighboring cities to borrow buses.

Addressing Homelessness and Traffic Challenges

Mayor Bass acknowledged the challenges Los Angeles faces in preparing for the 2028 Olympics, particularly regarding homelessness and traffic management.

• The city aims to build more than 18,000 new housing units for the unhoused population, with efforts to "eliminate street homelessness."
• Discussions are underway with companies in Los Angeles to explore remote work schedules and shift truck deliveries to nighttime during high-traffic periods, similar to the 1984 Olympics.
• The goal is to organize the region in a way that makes traffic "less and manageable" during the Olympics.

Showcasing Los Angeles and Its Culture

LA 2028 President Casey Wasserman and actress Jessica Alba, who is on the Los Angeles 2028 board of directors, emphasized the opportunity to showcase the city's diverse culture and landmarks during the Olympics.

• Unlike previous Olympics, no new permanent venues will be built for the Los Angeles Games, the first time in Olympic history.
• Wasserman highlighted the potential to feature iconic locations like the Hollywood Sign, drawing inspiration from the Olympic Torch handover ceremony where Tom Cruise scaled the sign, and the Olympic Rings replaced the "OO"s (using CGI).
• Alba stated that the Olympics will serve as a "global platform to showcase" various aspects of Los Angeles culture, including Hollywood, fashion, and food, with the city being a "main character" during the Games.

Building Upon the Success of the Paris Olympics

The stakeholders aim to build upon the success of the 2024 Paris Olympics, which Wasserman described as "remind[ing] people why they fall in love with the Olympics."

• The Paris Games featured iconic locations like the Eiffel Tower hosting events like beach volleyball nearby.
• Los Angeles organizers will explore ways to incorporate the city's landmarks into the Olympics while considering the challenges and complexities involved.

Collaboration and Preparation

Hosting the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles will require collaboration and extensive preparation across various sectors.

• Mayor Bass emphasized the need for collaboration with other cities to borrow buses and coordinate public transportation.
• Discussions with companies will focus on implementing remote work schedules and adjusting delivery schedules during high-traffic periods.
• The city aims to leverage its experience from hosting the 1984 Olympics to ensure a successful event in 2028.