Los Angeles Gears Up for 2028 Olympics

Paris is so yesterday. Now that the torch has been passed, let’s look at what Los Angeles is planning for the 2028 Olympic Games, including making it an eco-friendly car-free experience.

This will be the third time the City of Angels hosts the games – 1932, 1984 were the previous times.

Photo: Travel and Tour World

This will be the third time the City of Angels hosts the games – 1932, 1984 were the previous times, making it only one of three cities in the world to have hosted the event three times.

The 1932 Games, held during the Great Depression, saw the city as the sole bidder, yet it still produced memorable moments, including gold medals for legendary American athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias.

The 1984 Olympics were a financial and cultural success, remembered for iconic performances by track and field marvel Carl Lewis and gymnast Mary Lou Retton.

It also featured a remarkable opening ceremony that featured a jetpack descent into the Memorial Coliseum, similar to the arrival of Tom Cruise, star of the Mission Impossible movie franchise, to promote the upcoming Los Angeles games.

BTW – The Winter Games return to Salt Lake City in 2034, 32 years after hosting them in 2002.

See also – Washington Post report about sports that will debut in 2028, and those which won’t return.

What’s Planned for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

Janet Evans, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and Chief Athlete Officer for the LA28 Organizing Committee, emphasizes the city’s commitment to delivering a Games that reflect the region’s vibrant culture and forward-thinking spirit.

The planning committee includes Katie Ledecky, the world champion swimmer who made headlines in the 2024 Paris Games, and media mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Infrastructure Development & Venue Plans

Los Angeles is taking a “no-build” approach to the 2028 Olympics, focusing on enhancing 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 also be transformed into the largest Olympic swimming venue ever, a first 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 eyed for marathon swimming and triathlon races, with organizers keen on ensuring the area meets the highest standards.

Transportation and Traffic Management

As anybody who has been stuck on one or both of the interstate highways which cross downtown Los Angeles – the 405 and the 10 – one of the major challenges for the devilish traffic in the City of Angels (pardon the pun).

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 is encouraging staggering workforce hours and 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.

The Metro has recently secured $900 million through federal infrastructure grants, with $139 million dedicated to improving transit systems in time for the Games.

While not as extensive as the NYC or Boston subway systems, there are Metro stops close to the event venues.

Safety and Security Concerns

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 been collaborating with their counterparts in Paris to ensure that LA 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.

Financial Considerations & Future Events

The budget for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is estimated at $6.9 billion, with funding expected to come from ticket sales, sponsorships, and payments from the International Olympic Committee.

According to the trade publication Travel and Tour World, 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, and another Super Bowl in 2027.

These events will serve as critical opportunities for the city to refine preparations and ensure a successful Olympic Games in 2028.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.