After conclusion of Paris 2024, wait begins for 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles

New Delhi: With the conclusion of 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday, the wait for Los Angeles Games in 2028 has begun in right earnest.

The baton was passed to LA mayor Karen Bass at the closing ceremony with Hollywood heartthrob Tom Cruise carrying the flag in a pre-recorded stunt via motorcycle, plane and parachute to kick off countdown to 2028 Olympics.

After 1932 and 1984, it would be the third time that LA would be hosting the Games, making it only the third city to do so.

Circumstances are vastly different now from then though. In 1932, LA were the only bidder and hosted the Games during a period of the Great Depression while in 1984 it was dubbed the “good Olympics”.

It was deemed a financial and cultural success as US dominated with Carl Lewis becoming a global phenomenon as the then USSR led Eastern Block boycotted.

But in 2028, it would be different as they have to match the bar set by Paris 2024, or better it. After a closed door Tokyo 2020 for COVID, the Olympics brand has been rejuvenated at Paris, with broadcasters and sponsors flashing a broad smile after numbers soared.

“We want our games to be a modern games, youthful, full of the optimism that Southern California brings to the world and the globe,” chief athlete officer for the LA 2028 organising committee Janet Evans, a four-time Olympic champion swimmer, told The Associated Press.

‘No-build Games’

Hollywood will be a predominant theme at LA 2028, the tone of which was set by Cruise with his trademark stunts at the closing ceremony of Paris.

“As we’ve seen here in Paris, the Olympics are an opportunity to make transformative change,” Bass has said, as quoted by The Associated Press.

With an existing infrastructure and venues already in place, LA would be a “no-build games”, Evans has pointed out.

LA plan to utilise the SoFi Stadium and the Memorial Coliseum while the Intuit Dome would be the home for Olympic basketball. Gymnastics would be held at the Crypto.com Arena.

The marathon swimming and triathlon races will be held at Long Beach area waterfront.

Transport a concern

LA would have to spend big on a well connected transport system as the city has a reputation of being hard to commute without a car.

Paris had a thriving metro while LA has a subway that connects major venues. The high-profile Inglewood People Mover rail line remains unclear.

A funding of $139 million has been made to make the Olympics a “care-free event with Metro getting a $900 million boost.

“The biggest challenge is not waiting to 2028, but really taking the opportunity between now and 2028 to help Angelenos and visitors alike reimagine the transportation network as something that will be their first choice,” Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said, as quoted by The Associated Press.

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