In a grand finale to the 2024 Olympic Games, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass accepted the Olympic flag from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, officially kicking off the countdown to the LA28 Games. Adam Burke, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, was on hand in Paris to gather insights on the tourism impact and preparations needed for the 2028 Games.
“We’re honored to join Mayor Karen Bass in this historic moment as we receive the Olympic flag from Paris,” said Adam Burke. “We’re excited to welcome the world to LA for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. LA will make history as the third city – and the first in the U.S. – to host the Games three times, joining Paris and London. This handover spotlights LA as a global sports capital. Congratulations to our friends in Paris for a job well done!”
Los Angeles is gearing up for a decade of major sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup, NBA All-Star Game, and U.S. Women’s Open Championship in 2026, followed by Super Bowl LXI in 2027, all leading up to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. With 11 professional sports teams and some of the world’s most iconic venues, LA is a year-round paradise for sports fans. The LA28 Games will make the most of these existing venues as part of a sustainability plan.
Some highlights include SoFi Stadium, which will host the largest swimming venue in Olympic history with 38,000 seats, and the historic LA Memorial Coliseum, which will become the only stadium to host Track and Field competitions in three Olympic Games. Diving will return to the same pool used in the 1932 Games, while Basketball will take center stage at the new Intuit Dome. For the first time, the San Fernando Valley will host Olympic events, including BMX, Skateboarding, and Archery.
With sports tourism making up 10% of global tourism spending and growing rapidly at an estimated rate of 17.5%, LA’s tourism leaders are optimistic about a significant boost in visitors eager to experience the city’s vibrant sports culture in the coming years.
To help visitors looking for sporting experiences, Los Angeles Tourism has created a series of sports itineraries, including ‘3 days of LA sports attractions’ and ‘3 days of LA dining for sports fans’. For more information on LA28, please visit la28.org.
