Mayor brings Olympic flag to set stage for 2028
OLYMPIC FLAG arrives with Mayor Karen Bass, LA28 Chair Casey Wasserman and three of the Team USA Olympic athletes, all having returned on a special flight from Paris on August 12.
Athletes, officials join Bass on return from Paris
At the far west end of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), on the morning of August 12, really big crowds of reporters and camera-people passed through a series of security checks, including of camera equipment by sniffing dogs. The goal was to be admitted to the giant Delta aircraft hanger that adjoins the sand dunes and abandoned “Surfridge” residential section of Playa del Rey, right next to Dockweiler State Beach and the Pacific Ocean.
That afternoon, after a nonstop flight from Paris and a VIP customs and immigration process aboard the aircraft at the historic Terminal 1 area on the south side of the airport, Delta Flight 291, an Airbus A350-900 with a special LA28 livery on the plane’s fuselage, was towed across the runways to the Delta hangar decked out with LA28 symbols and seating and dining areas. And lots of reporters.
DELTA HANGAR AT LAX was organized into a welcome center for Olympians and others arriving on the Aug. 12 flight from Paris
When Mayor Bass appeared at the top of the passenger boarding stairs with LA 28 Chair Casey Wasserman and the Olympic Flag, plus three Olympians returning to the USA, it was the first time in 40 years that the Olympic Flag had been in Los Angeles.
PRESS MEMBERS await Delta flight’s arrival.
While officials and the reporters on the ground were awaiting the aircraft’s main door’s ceremonial opening, most of the passengers from Paris already had deplaned on the back stairs and walked into the hangar’s makeshift baggage area. The passengers included about three-score Olympians plus various government and LA28 officials. Delta had set up a large baggage storage facility inside the hanger so the Olympians could check their carry-on bags (and some skateboards) while they returned to the tarmac for photo-ops in front of the aircraft. Later in the afternoon, Delta baggage carts brought in additional luggage from the aircraft’s hold. Thereafter, many Olympians would be transferred to connecting flights going elsewhere.
NON-FLAG-BEARING passengers from Paris deplane on the back stairs and walk into the hangar’s makeshift baggage area.
WELCOMING Mayor Bass (in red) and Casey Wasserman (in front) and Olympians (in powder blue) are, from left, Governor Newsom and Jennifer Siebel Newsom and LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover.
On the tarmac, the “official” welcoming of the Mayor and the flag came from Governor Newsom and Jennifer Siebel Newsom and LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover. Before the photo-ops ended, a stream of elected officials went out to the tarmac to join the Olympians and the Mayor and Governor for one last photo-op.
BAGGAGE AREA inside the hanger allowed temporary checking of carry-ons during tarmac photo-ops and while eating. Many Olympians would then transfer to connecting flights.
Sighted were Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, Inglewood Mayor James Butts, Los Angeles City Councilmembers Monica Rodriquez, Paul Krekorian and Traci Park, County Supervisors Janice Hahn and Hilda Solis, and Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto.
GOVERNOR NEWSOM saw the NBC interview cameras on his way out of the event, so he stopped by to chat.
Gradually, the Olympians found their bags and began moving on to the next legs of their journeys home. Reporters filtered out. And, as he and his traveling party were heading out of the hangar, Governor Newsom noticed some NBC athlete interview cameras, so he stopped by to chat.
The Los Angeles Olympic Games Opening Ceremony is July 14, 2028, and the Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony follows a month later, on August 15, 2028.
LOCAL ELECTED LEADERS joined the photo op including, in front row from left, Rex Richardson, Monica Rodriquez, Paul Krekorian, Janice Hahn, James Butts, Karen Bass, Hilda Solis, Traci Park and Hydee Feldstein Soto.
Category: News