Los Angeles is intensifying its preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics, a momentous occasion that promises to revitalize the city and boost tourism. This will be the third time Los Angeles will host the world’s largest sporting event, following its successful ventures in 1932 and 1984. With the official handover from Paris during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Games, Mayor Karen Bass, alongside key representatives from the city, has unveiled comprehensive plans to transform Los Angeles into the epicenter of global sports in 2028.
The upcoming Games are set to solidify Los Angeles’s status as one of only three cities worldwide to have hosted the Olympics three times. The 1932 Games, held during the Great Depression, saw Los Angeles as the sole bidder and produced memorable moments, including gold medals for American athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias. The 1984 Olympics were a resounding financial and cultural success, remembered for iconic performances by Carl Lewis and Mary Lou Retton, and a remarkable opening ceremony featuring a jetpack descent into the Memorial Coliseum. As the city prepares for its Olympic trilogy, the focus is on creating a modern, youthful, and optimistic Games that will resonate both locally and globally. Janet Evans, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and Chief Athlete Officer for the LA28 Organizing Committee, highlighted the city’s commitment to delivering Games that reflect the region’s vibrant culture and forward-thinking spirit.
Los Angeles is taking a “no-build” approach to the 2028 Olympics, emphasizing the use and enhancement of existing venues rather than constructing new ones. The Games will be hosted across several iconic locations, including the century-old Memorial Coliseum and the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. SoFi Stadium, home to two NFL teams, will be transformed into the largest Olympic swimming venue ever, a feat not seen since 1972. Another key venue will be the Intuit Dome, the soon-to-open home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers, which is set to host Olympic basketball. Meanwhile, the Crypto.com Arena, located in downtown Los Angeles, will be the site for gymnastics events. The Long Beach waterfront, known for its mixed cleanliness history, is being considered for marathon swimming and triathlon races, with organizers dedicated to ensuring the area meets the highest standards.
One of the major challenges for Los Angeles is its infamous traffic. To address this, the city is implementing a comprehensive transportation plan aimed at mitigating congestion during the 17-day event. Drawing inspiration from the successful strategies of the 1984 Olympics, Mayor Karen Bass has emphasized the need for staggering workforce hours and encouraging remote work to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. The city’s public transportation network has also undergone significant expansion, with new subway lines and the ambitious Inglewood People Mover project. Despite facing funding challenges, the Metro has recently secured $900 million through federal infrastructure grants, with $139 million dedicated to improving transit systems in time for the Games.
As the countdown to 2028 continues, safety and security remain top priorities. The Olympics have been designated as a national special security event, placing the U.S. Secret Service at the forefront of security planning. Law enforcement agencies from Los Angeles have already begun collaborating with their counterparts in Paris to ensure the city is well-prepared for any potential threats. Homelessness, a long-standing issue in Los Angeles, has also drawn attention as the city prepares for the influx of visitors. California Governor Gavin Newsom has threatened to withhold funding from cities unable to address the crisis, adding pressure on Los Angeles to find sustainable solutions.
The budget for the 2028 Olympics is estimated at $6.9 billion, with funding expected to come from ticket sales, sponsorships, and payments from the International Olympic Committee. LA28 organizers have already secured over $1 billion in domestic corporate sponsorships, with a goal of reaching $2.5 billion. Before the Olympics, Los Angeles will host several other major events, including the FIFA World Cup and the U.S. Women’s Open in 2026, followed by another Super Bowl in 2027. These events will serve as critical opportunities for the city to refine its preparations and ensure a successful Olympic Games in 2028.
