Los Angeles officially takes the torch as Mayor Karen Bass accepts the Olympic flag during the Paris closing ceremony on Sunday, August 11, 2024.
Paris Olympics closing ceremony
At the 2024 Paris Olympics closing ceremony, Tom Cruise captivated the audience with a jaw-dropping appearance. The 62-year-old action star lived up to his reputation by executing a daring stunt of his iconic “Mission: Impossible” films. Cruise made a dramatic entrance into the Stade de France, Paris’s largest stadium, suspended high above the ground on a wire.
Los Angeles’ Olympic Legacy: A Historic Third Hosting in 2028
Los Angeles secured the 2028 Olympic Games after Paris was chosen for 2024, making it the third city in the world to host the Games three times. The city’s Olympic journey began in 1932, when it was the sole bidder during the Great Depression, despite the absence of several nations. Despite these challenges, the event produced memorable athletic moments. The 1984 Olympics further solidified LA’s legacy, renowned for its financial and cultural success, earning the nickname “the good Olympics” and sparking the desire among major world cities to host the event.
LA’s preparations for the upcoming Olympics
“We want our games to be a modern game, youthful, full of the optimism that Southern California brings to the world and the globe,” Janet Evans, four-time Olympic gold medallists in swimming and chief athlete officer for the LA 2028 organizing committee, spoke The Associated Press in Paris.
In the middle of, a wave of stadium and arena construction, Los Angeles plans to focus on refurbishing existing venues rather than constructing new ones for the 2028 Olympics. “It’s a no-build Game,” said Janet Evans, emphasizing the city’s strategy of utilizing both established and updated venues.
After Paris’ groundbreaking opening ceremony on the Seine River, Los Angeles is opting for a more traditional approach, with a stadium-based opening at SoFi Stadium in neighbouring Inglewood, while also incorporating the century-old Memorial Coliseum in the city.
The biggest challenge is not waiting to 2028, but really taking the opportunity between now and 2028 to help Angelenos and visitors alike reimagine the transportation network as something that will be their first choice,” Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said.
