The Summer Olympics Are Returning to Hollywood
The Games will be returning to the City of Angels for the first time since the controversial 1984 Olympics, which were boycotted by several countries, including the Soviet Union, East Germany, Albania, Iran, and Libya.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the competition will run for 17 days, with the opening ceremony being on July 14 and the closing ceremony being on July 30. The games will be followed by the Paralympics, which are scheduled between the 15th and 27th of August
Thomas Bach, the president of the IOC, was on-site for the announcement of the 2028 Olympics schedule. He also used his time in Los Angeles to visit future venues and meet with the LA28 leadership.
In an interview, Bach shared that he was really impressed by the progress and creativity of the LA28 team. He also added that the games’ organizers are using the power of the event to inspire young people to get involved in sports.
Third Time’s the Charm
Los Angeles is the third city, after London and Paris, to host the Summer Olympics three times.
The City of Angels hosted its first Olympics in 1932. The event was attended by 37 nations and saw over 1,300 athletes compete in 20 disciplines. The above-mentioned 1984 Games welcomed a little less than 7,000 athletes from 140 countries. It had 221 events in 21 sports.
The upcoming competition will use existing venues and stadiums across the region. The IOC and LA28 leadership are expecting approximately 15,000 athletes to take part in the games and Paralympics.
After more than two decades, the summer Olympic games are returning to the US, which is why many Angeleños are excited about the prospect of seeing their favorite athletes in action!