Third time is a charm for L.A. Olympics
In the summer of 2028, Los Angeles will become the third city in the world to host the Olympics three times. The Games were played here in 1932 and 1984. Perhaps even more impressive, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Rose Bowl Stadium will be the first venues in history to host three Olympic Games. Although it is the third time for the Olympics, it is the first time for the Paralympics.
LA28 is the organization that’s preparing for the influx of 15,000 Olympic athletes, who will participate in approximately 36 sports.
Recently, LA28 announced the venues for these competitions. As Janet Evans, chief athlete officer for LA28 and a three-time Olympian participant with gold and silver medals, stated, “Our Games Plan is anchored in radical reuse of existing venues and not building any new permanent infrastructure.” LA28 is the first Games since London 1948 to not build any new and permanent structures for the event. The locations are all over the city and county, as well as the Inland Empire and Orange County, but “the venues are in clusters,” according to Evans. In a recent interview with local radio station KCRW, Evans, said, “We have world class venues throughout the city and the county.” LA28 plans on using them.
“Our team saw an incredible opportunity to showcase squash for its Olympic debut at the most L.A. venue ever—
a literal movie set!”
— Janet Evans, Chief Athlete Officer for LA28
OLYMPICS 2028 will use world-famous venues throughout the Southland. Image courtesy of LA28.
About 15 events will take place in Downtown, including rhythmic gymnastics, badminton and boxing. The Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area will be active summer 2028. For the first time, this facility will host three-on- three basketball, BMX racing, skateboarding and a modern pantheon, which includes five different disciplines: swimming, fencing, horse riding / show jumping, pistol shooting and running.
Squash is coming to the Olympics for the first time. Evans said, “Squash is unique because its field of play is essentially a glass box that can be set up outside of the traditional arena … Our team saw an incredible opportunity to showcase squash for its Olympic debut at the most L.A. venue ever—a literal movie set!” That’s right, while taking the iconic tram ride through the Universal Studios Lot, you could eye the squash competitions.
Venice Beach will be home to the triathlon and the official starting location for the marathon and cycling road courses. And Dodgers Stadium will be the place to watch baseball.
Equestrian sports will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. And cricket is returning to the Olympics for the first time in over a century. Head to the fairgrounds in Pomona to view the cricket competitions.
The City of Long Beachis hosting beach volleyball, coastal rowing, target shooting and sport climbing.
In keeping with the regulation of not building any new, permanent structures, the farthest venue is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This city has world-class facilities for hosting canoe slalom and softball. According to Evans it offers “both athletes and spectators an incredible experience while expanding the Games’ excitement beyond Southern California.”
For the first time, the Olympic and Paralympic Opening Ceremonies will be shared between two venues, the Coliseum and SoFi Stadium.
Differences between
1932 and now
While combing through the vast file system at the Larchmont Chronicle, we came across an article that was published in the Los Angeles Times about a year before the 1984 Games took place. It’s an interview with Gwynn Wilson, 86, director of the 1932 Olympic Games.
The article brings to point some of the differences between the 1932 Games and the upcoming 2028 Games.
In 1932, they didn’t have any security whatsoever. “We didn’t spend 10 cents on security,” Wilson noted. During the 1932 Games, a ticket to the Opening Ceremony was $3. Not sure what it will be this year, but in Paris 2024 they ranged from about $100 to $2,700 each. Lastly, the cost of caring for the atheletes—food, lodging, transportation—cost $2 a day. In 1984 they were trying to keep it at $35 to $45 per day. Any thoughts for 2028?
When the 1932 Olympics were played, it was the Prohibition era in the U.S. According to Wilson, “How could the French and Italians have their wine?” They worked it out.
Lastly, the idea of an Olympic Village was conceived and built for the first time for the 1932 Games. The Baldwin heirs allowed organizers to build in Baldwin Hills as long as they returned the property to its original state. The Olympic Village concept has continued through the years. This time around, the athletes will be housed at UCLA. Evans said that they don’t have details on the food options yet, but “I can tell you that UCLA has consistently been rated as having the best on-campus dining halls in America.”
Category: News
