Olympics 2028: All about the host city, events, and what to expect

The Paris Olympics have wrapped up, and now it's Los Angeles' turn to host the next Olympic Games. On Sunday, during the closing ceremony in Paris, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass received the Olympic flag, symbolising the official handover. In a dramatic touch, actor Tom Cruise, via a pre-recorded segment involving a motorcycle, plane, and parachute, kicked off the countdown to the 2028 Games.


Los Angeles will be hosting the Olympics for the third time, following previous events in 1932 and 1984. The city secured the 2028 Games as a consolation after Paris was chosen for 2024.


A look back at LA's Olympic history
Los Angeles first hosted the Olympics in 1932, during the Great Depression, when it was the sole bidder. Despite the tough times, the Games were memorable, featuring notable athletes like Babe Didrikson Zaharias, who won gold in javelin and hurdles.

The 1984 Olympics in LA were a major success, often remembered as the "good" Olympics due to their financial and cultural achievements. Highlights included decathlon champion Rafer Johnson lighting the torch, a jetpack performance, and theme music by John Williams. The Games saw American athletes like Carl Lewis and Mary Lou Retton rise to fame, and Michael Jordan lead the men's basketball team to gold.

Looking ahead to 2028
For the 2028 Games, Los Angeles plans to use existing venues rather than building new ones. SoFi Stadium in Inglewood will host the opening ceremony and swimming events, while the historic Memorial Coliseum in downtown LA will also be part of the Games. The Intuit Dome, the future home of the NBA's Clippers, will serve as the venue for basketball, and gymnastics will take place at the Crypto.com Arena, home of the Lakers.

One of the major venues, the Long Beach area, will host marathon swimming and triathlon events. Its waters have received good ratings for cleanliness, an improvement over some issues faced by Paris with swimming in the Seine River.

Transportation and city preparations
Los Angeles is known for its traffic, but plans are in place to manage it better. The city aims to emulate the successful traffic strategies used during the 1984 Games. This includes adjusting work hours and promoting remote work during the 17-day event.

LA has made strides in improving public transit since its last Olympics. New subway lines and bus projects are underway, including a new rail line connecting downtown LA with UCLA, the planned Olympic Village location.

Challenges and opportunities
As LA prepares for 2028, issues like crime and homelessness are being addressed. The city is working on security plans with federal support and learning from Paris' experiences with managing public spaces and homeless relocations during the Games.

Economically, LA is gearing up with a growing hotel industry and upcoming major events like the FIFA World Cup and another Super Bowl. The LA28 organising committee is aiming to cover the Games' $6.9 billion budget through ticket sales, sponsorships, and other revenue streams, with over $1 billion already raised.

Inputs from AP